Genus Varanus Scientific name Varanus cumingi Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Family Varanidae Subgenus V. (Soterosaurus) Higher classification Monitor lizard | |
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Similar Monitor lizard, Reptile, Rennell Island monitor, Roughneck monitor lizard, Mertens' water monitor | ||
Feeding varanus cumingi at christian poulsen
The yellow-headed water monitor (Varanus cumingi ), also commonly known as the Philippine water monitor or Cuming's water monitor, is a large species of monitor lizard previously recognized as a subspecies of the water monitor (Varanus salvator ), but today commonly acknowledged as a species in its own right. It feeds on birds, fish, mammals, and carrion. The species thrives in forest and water margins in tropical refuges.
Contents
- Feeding varanus cumingi at christian poulsen
- Etymology
- Geographic range
- Description
- Habitat
- Diet
- Subspecies
- References
Etymology
The specific name, cumingi, is in honor of English conchologist and botanist Hugh Cuming.
Geographic range
V. cumingi is found in the southern Philippines, where distributed on Mindanao and a few small nearby islands.
Description
V. cumingi has the highest degree of yellow coloration among all the endemic water monitors in the Philippines, probably even in the world.
Habitat
V. cumingi inhabits primary and secondary forests, and cultivated lands.
Diet
The diet of V. cumingi is composed of rodents, birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other invertebrates, including eggs and carrion.
Subspecies
Two subspecies were formerly recognized: V. c. cumingi occurring on Mindanao and offshore islands and V. c. samarensis on the islands of Bohol, Leyte and Samar. However, the latter has since been elevated to full species status as Varanus samarensis.