Three new monitor lizards from the Philippines identified

Varanus palawanensis, one of the new monitor lizard species from Palawan Island, Philippines. (Copyright: Ingo Langlotz)

May 2010. A previous study on the systematics and diversity of Southeast Asian water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator, see Koch et al. 2007) showed that the three Philippine members, which were originally treated as subspecies, actually all represent distinct species because they are separated by significant differences. Thus, the three newly discovered monitor lizards doubles the number of known Philippine water monitors.

"After the spectacular discovery of several new monitor lizards from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi three years ago, our results now illustrate that the diversity of water monitor lizards in the Philippines has also been largely underestimated" says André Koch, who will soon complete his doctoral thesis at the University of Bonn. Southeast Asian monitor lizards are one main focus of his dissertation, which he writes at the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK).

"There are too few experts in the world"
Prof Böhme, vice-director of the ZFMK and head of the herpetology section, has investigated monitor lizards for more than 20 years, and adds: "It's amazing that these largest living lizards of the world have been neglected for so long and that new species come up time and again. It shows that even with large vertebrates not all species of our planet are recognized and named. There are too few experts in the world, the education level at universities is declining and the essential knowledge about the global biodiversity stands to get lost!"

Co-author Dr Maren Gaulke (GeoBio-Center LMU, Munich), an expert for Philippine reptiles, particularly monitor lizards, has been studying the biology of these impressive giant reptiles for 25 years: "Monitor lizards are fantastic creatures. They are agile, powerful, and the most intelligent lizards of the world."

The three new Philippine monitors were identified based on examination of numerous preserved voucher specimens in various major European natural history museums, in combination with long-term studies in the field. This impressively demonstrates the immense importance of such museum collections as the archives of the global biodiversity. Unfortunately, in times of limited public funding, the necessary curatorial positions are often not reoccupied, when a scientist retires. This disastrously affects not only the corresponding collections but also the related field of knowledge!

A juvenile specimen of Varanus cumingi samarensis, the new subspecies from Samar Island, Philippines.  Copyright: Maren Gaulke)

Thus, one of the new monitor species, which is known from only two specimens in the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen, was named after the late Jens B. Rasmussen, former herpetologist of the museum collections there, whose position disappeared. Thereby, the authors want also to call attention to the global taxonomy crisis.

The Philippines - Megadiverse
The Philippines comprise more than 7,000 tropical islands. This island nation is well known for its extraordinary biological richness and diversity. It is one of the biodiversity hotspots of our planet, a real megadiversity country. This is not just true for coral fishes or butterflies and other small insects, but also for the large predators in this region, the monitor lizards (genus Varanus).