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| Palawan Water Monitor |
The Palawan Water Monitor, Varanus palawanensis Koch,
Gaulke & Böhme 2010, is a species of monitor lizard commonly
found in Palawan. This species is semi-aquatic and inhabits a variety of
natural habitats, from coastal forest and mangroves, rural areas as well as secondary and primary
forests. It is commonly found in the lowlands but also present at
elevations above 1000 masl, although rarely seen. The Palawan Water
Monitor population is more copious in the mangroves, wetlands, and
riparian forests compared to old-growth forest habitats in the mountains.
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| Palawan Water Monitor |
They are generally solitary, but they can be seen together, especially around abundant food sources, and despite their imposing size (reaching lengths of nearly two meters), they are not typically territorial in a rigid sense. In these feeding aggregations, they have been observed in ritualized combat, which often involves standing on their hind legs and grappling with one another to establish dominance without necessarily resorting to lethal violence.
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| Palawan Water Monitor |
The Palawan Water Monitors can
defend themselves against most predators on the forest floor, and there
are very few predators in the wild big enough to prey on this species.
They have powerful jaws and many sharp teeth that can give gashing
bites, strong sharp claws that can pierce skins, and long tails that can slash like a whip. When agitated, this water monitor can emit a loud
low hiss or almost a low growl as a warning against predators.
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| Palawan Water Monitor |
The
Varanus palawanensis preys on insects, arachnids, myriapods, small
reptiles, birds, and young mammals found in nests. It also feeds on
eggs, and its strong sense of smell makes it a threat to
ground-nesting birds. Young water monitors are good climbers and often
prey on eggs and hatchlings found in cavities and exposed bird nests on
trees. It also feeds on carrions found on the forest floor. Water
monitors inhabiting rural areas are primarily considered a pest of
poultry.
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| Palawan Water Monitor |
The Palawan Water Monitor is often seen in the morning
and late afternoon swimming slowly along the edge of a body of water in
its territory. Apart from fishes, amphibians, mollusks, and crustaceans,
this monitor lizard also preys on water birds. When it senses that a
wader or aquatic bird is moving towards its direction, it will freeze
with its body partly submerged in the water and will wait until the
unsuspecting prey is near enough not to escape an attack.
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| Palawan Water Monitor |
Their
aquatic habits provide them with a measure of safety. When being chased by predators, it can jump into the water and swim away to safety. An
adult Palawan Water Monitor is capable of staying underwater for a few
minutes. They are excellent swimmers, using their long tails to steer
through water while keeping their feet close to the body. Adults and
juveniles seen sun basking on branches overhanging rivers and swamps
often jump into the water when disturbed.
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| Palawan Water Monitor caught by a trap |
Hunting still occurs in
many areas in Palawan, with national protective laws being ignored.
Apart from prosecution as a poultry pest in rural areas, the Palawan Water
Monitor is often hunted and trapped for its meat. The meat is said to
taste like chicken meat, and water monitor meat cooked in spices and
coconut milk is treated as delicacy in many areas in Palawan. Skin trade
is rare in Palawan, but many locals and tribes use the skin for
accessories and other things like decorations on knife and bolo sheaths,
belts, pouches, and percussion musical instruments.
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| Palawan Water Monitor |
The Varanus
palawanensis is active during the day. Young adults often rest in tree
hollows and on top of large branches at night. Large individuals favor
thick vegetation or large ground and rock cavities if if they are available. It
inhabits all mountain ranges in Palawan and is present in all protected
areas in the province, but direct utilization of this species and
destruction of habitats have caused population declines in some areas,
particularly on the eastern coast of Palawan.
