Day 3 - Green Tree Monitor (7920340776)

Description:

Description: Green Tree Monitor (Varanus prasinus) The Manchester Museum's Vivarium is dedicated to the study of reptiles and amphibians and has a wide collection of living specimens that help their worldwide conservation. The displays show live reptiles and amphibians that are cared for in award winning naturalistic environments. In a more direct approach to conservation, the Department is also involved in non-invasive research projects and captive breeding programmes. These green tree monitors are active in the daytime. They have excellent vision. They have a long tongue like a snake's that they continually use to sense their surroundings. The lizard's forked tongue allows it to determine which direction a scent is coming from. This suggests that monitors are the closest living relatives to snakes. Their brilliant green camouflage allows these lizards to blend into the background. They hunt, feed and breed high up in the forest canopy in New Guinea. Green tree monitors can grow up to 80cm from head to tail. They are carniverous and eat insects, birds and small mamals. Their numbers are rapidly declining in the wild. However captive breeding of this species is beginning to be successful. Date: 3 September 2012, 10:51. Source: Day 3 - Green Tree Monitor. Author: akhenatenator.