VARANUS 145 



frequently reaching 2 meters or more in length. There are 

 five known species in the Philippines, the largest being Vai^anus 

 salvator. They occur in all the larger islands and probably 

 in most of the smaller ones. 



In habits they do not differ greatly from other lizards. The 

 eggs are laid in tree trunks or in the hollow roots of stumps, 

 usually near water. They dive readily and swim beneath the 

 surface of the water. They can climb trees. Their food is 

 varied. Seemingly they prefer rotting animal flesh, and will 

 even eat the flesh from human cadavers which are buried in 

 shallow graves or are placed among the rocks for burial. Some 

 species eat beetles and grasshoppers and any other food they 

 can obtain such as small bugs, animals, or even eggs. They 

 readily catch and eat domestic chickens. 



They are known in the Islands under a variety of names, 

 among which are hayaivak (Tagalog), banas (Ilocano), halo 

 (Visayan), guibang (Butuan Visayan and Manobo). Not in- 

 frequently they are called ''iguanas," but they certainly are not 

 iguanas. They are widely known among English-speaking people 

 as monitors. 



In many parts of the Islands they are eaten. In some parts 

 certain internal organs of the reptile are used as medicine. A 

 Manobo considers it a calamity for one to enter his house. In 

 most countries where they occur they are considered poisonous, 

 but this belief is a fallacy. 



Key to the Philippine species of Vararms Merrem. 

 a}. Nostril an oblique slit; tail compressed and keeled above; abdominal 

 scales keeled. 

 6\ Nostril equally distant from orbit and end of snout. 



V, grayi Boulenger (p. 145). 

 6^. Nostril nearer orbit than end of snout; snout long and pointed; 

 nuchal scales extremely large and strongly keeled. 



V. rudicollis (Gray) (p. 146). 

 o!\ Nostril oval, at least twice as far from orbit as from end of snout; 

 tail compressed and keeled above. 

 6\ Nuchal scales not larger than dorsals.. V. salvator (Laurenti) (p. 147). 

 6^ Nuchal scales larger than occipitals and dorsals. 



V. nuchalis (Giinther) (p. 150). 

 6\ Nuchal scales smaller than occipitals, larger than dorsals. 



V. cumingi Martin (p. 151). 



VARANUS GRAYI Boulenger 



Varanus ornatus (non Daudin) Gray, Cat. Liz. (1845) 10. 

 Varanus grayi Boulenger, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. 2 (1885) 312. 



161466 10 



