Black Tree Monitor

Art

Goal for the week 19.5hrs

work on the sphinx

Animal

Photo by Robert Lawton

The black tree monitor (Varanus beccarii) is a 3 or 4 ft arboreal monitor from the Aru Islands of New Guinea. It was once thought to be a subspecies of the green tree monitor but is currently considered to be a separate species. Locally they are called "Waweyaro" the Kamoro supposedly do not eat them though I can't find a reason why. They have prehensile tail that assists them in climbing. It has been commented that they are reasonably intelligent for lizards. They are sometimes found in the pet trade but they are uncommon and the individuals tend to be wild caught as they are difficult to breed in captivity.