Yellow-headed water monitor


The yellow-headed water monitor, also commonly known as the Philippine water monitor or Cuming's water monitor, is a large species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. Varanus cumingi was previously recognized as a subspecies of the water monitor, but today is acknowledged as a species in its own right. It feeds on birds, fish, mammals, and carrion. The species thrives in mangrove, forest and water margins in tropical refuges.

Etymology

The specific name, cumingi, is in honor of English conchologist and botanist Hugh Cuming.

Geographic range

V. cumingi is found in the southern Philippines, where it is distributed on Mindanao and a few small nearby islands.

Description

V. cumingi has the highest degree of yellow coloration among all the endemic water monitors in the Philippines, probably even in the world.

Habitat

V. cumingi inhabits primary and secondary forests, and cultivated lands.

Diet

The diet of V. cumingi is composed of rodents, birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other invertebrates, including eggs and carrion.

Subspecies

Two subspecies were formerly recognized: V. c. cumingi occurring on Mindanao and offshore islands and V. c. samarensis on the islands of Bohol, Leyte and Samar. However, the latter has since been elevated to full species status as Varanus samarensis.