The Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG) Wildlife of the Month (WOM) for May 2024 is the Marbled Water Monitor, scientifically known as Varanus marmoratus (Wiegmann, 1834). Varanus is derived from the Arabic “waral”, which means “lizard beast”, while “marmoratus” means marbled. The wildlife is endemic to the Philippines and is labeled as “Threatened Species” in CITES Appendix II species.
The lizard’s diet includes insects, snails, shellfish, crabs, fish, frogs, snakes, turtles, rodents, eggs, and dead meat. It is an opportunist that can act as a forager, an active hunter, or a scavenger. It is oviparous, meaning it reproduces by laying or spawning eggs.
Photo By: MMCaña
By: JBBalatibat, AALimpiada, and MMCaña (May 2024)