The Yellow-Headed Water Monitor (Varanus cumingi) is a large lizard, and a reptile. It is also known as the Philippine Water Monitor, the Mindanao Water Monitor, or the Cuming’s Water Monitor.
The Yellow-Headed Water Monitor is yellow with dark-brown or black markings. Its head is often all yellow with only a few markings. Its scales are six-sided hexagons. It has a large mouth, large nostrils, and dark orange-brown eyes. Its feet have five toes with sharp claws.
Yellow-Headed Water Monitor Lizard
It measures about 110 centimeters (43 inches) in length.
The Yellow-Headed Water Monitor is native to the Mindanao Islands in the Philippines. It prefers mangrove forests and tropical regions. It is diurnal, active during the day.
It eats birds, mammals, fish, and carrion, which is the meat of dead animals.
The female lays 8-36 eggs, which hatch 9-12 months later.
Yellow-Headed Water Monitor Lizard
Yellow-Headed Water Monitor Lizard
Yellow-Headed Water Monitor Lizard
Yellow-Headed Water Monitor Lizard
Yellow-Headed Water Monitor Lizard
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM