A new species of monitor lizard closely related to the Komodo dragon has been discovered by German scientists in Indonesia.
The discovery was made after close examination of the new specimen using morphological characteristics and DNA analysis. Taxonomically classified as Varanus lirungensis, the new species “illustrates the high diversity of monitor lizards in Indonesia,” according to André Koch, who found the lizard.
Varanus lirungensis is described in the latest issue of the Australian Journal of Zoology. Discovered on the Talaud Islands, a small Indonesian archipelago, the new species is carnivorous like all other monitor lizards, and it is closely related to the giant Komodo dragon and the crocodile monitor. Researchers were surprised by the discovery, since they had originally arrived to study another species of monitor, the Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator).
The find should help to fill in some crucial gaps of knowledge about how flora and fauna migrated and diverged throughout the Southeast Asian islands, which are home to some of the world’s richest biodiversity.
Researchers warn, however, that the discovery could come as a mixed blessing. “As monitor lizards are exploited for the international trade in live animals and reptile leather, small island populations could soon be eliminated” explained Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wägele. In other words, poachers and traders could target the new species because of its status as an unknown species, which can mark up its value. Yet at the same time, new species like Varanus lirungensis can only be protected if they are identified and studied.
Sure, Varanus lirungensis doesn’t have wings and spit fire, and it may not be a dragon per se, but this fierce little lizard still conjures up traits of its larger dragon-like cousins. Who’s to say it can’t be the stuff of reptilian legend?
Image Credit: André Koch
About Bryan Nelson
Its like Mungo Park discovering Africa or Xtopher Columbus discovering the new world, or Vasco Da Gama discovering the sea route to India. All these places had always been there.
Did Pocahontas discover Great Britain? no!!!, the term “discovered” should be changed to; “noted”.
“All creatures great and small,God made them all.” A man cannot find all creatures.some times they found some creatures not all and become very happy.but only God knows very well how meny creatures are on the earth,see,forest.
i jus dont get how we think that we’ve made discoveries or that we were the first to ever see a certain species when they have probably been around for thousands of years in a ecosystem that humans live in. i think ppl shuld jus leave them alone cuz we r jus causin more animal species to become extinct directly or indirectly
WHAT?! THAT LIZARD HAS ONLY BEEN DISCOVERED NOW!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? WELL YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT LIZARD HAS BEEN HERE IN THE CNMI FOR THE LONGEST TIME!!!! IM SO CONFUSED! SO THIS “NEWLY DISCOVERED SPECIES” HAS ONLY BEEN DISCOVERED NOW!? DO YOU PEOPLE WANT PROOF!? COME HERE TO WHERE I LIVE! CNMI, TINIAN! FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE, FLY TO GUAM, THEN FLY TO SAIPAN THEN FLY TO TINIAN! THOSE ARE SEPARATE ISLANDS SO THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE TO FLY! BU SERIOUSLY! THIS ISN’T A LIE! THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR SO LONG BUT NO ONE REALLY KNEW THE ENGLISH NAME FOR IT. IN CHAMORRO, IT’S CALLED ALITAI. IN TAGALOG, IT’S CALLED BAYAWAK. GO AHEAD & SEARCH FOR IT IN GOOGLE.
Mumbo-jumbo this animal species do not exist until there is a proof record with a picture,name,and dimensions.is called dragon because is related to Komodo dragon the closest one resembling the mythical beast.we will like to find mythical dragons only to subjugate or destroy them like we do in movies for example King Kong so please watch! the only one specie with mythical inner monsters left,threatening to destroy the world is you and me.
there are many in philippines.. LOL!
We call it BIAWAK, you can find this animal all around Indonesia, they lived near to the river or the rice field, even in Bali you can find it easily. My neighbor has it as a pet, it’s 1.5 meters long.
The Indonesian knew from long time ago!!!!but we not published to void the Unresponsible Exploitation!!!so i dis agree if you said The fisth finder!
These monitors have been discovered already. If you go to prehistoricpets.com or calzoo.com. They have them for sale. I’ve used to work in a pet store and we have sold them. You can even find them for sale at the big reptile show held in Anahiem, CA in August every year. German scientist are lame. They didn’t find a new species. So dont believe this article about a new dragon, because it’s not a new dragon. Trust me this is lame.
doesn’t anyone understand that we are the main reason all these animales ar becoming endangered, and extinct? we should do everything possible to keep the world in good condition for them, but everyone knows we’re not, don’t you realize that we are not the protectors, we’ve become the destroyers! we are wiping out millions of animals every day with deforrestation and pollution.
It’s not true that animals can only be protected if they are identified and study, the Lake Champlain water monster is protected and there is no proof it even exists.
I am native to North Sulawesi where these new species of lizards were discovered. There is another kind that grow much bigger than this Lirung lizard. They were food for me. It is good to know that they different to each other and contribute to the biodiversity richness of the region which is an important factor to support our very life on earth. From the publication, we may also study that the sharp geological delineation of Sulawesi and surrounding Islands may contribute to the creation of animals that are unique to small areas of the Island. I believe that the lizards here are not the dragons as most people here have pictured them in their hearts and souls.