Giant Lizard Detected In The Philippines Islands
April 10th, 2010 - 8:03 pm ICT by GDBy Gina Gomez
Phillipines, Apr 10, (THAINDIAN NEWS) A giant lizard, almost the size of a dragon was detected in the mountains of north Phillipines. This lizard, which can weigh up to 10 kilograms was caught by the local tribes living in the Sierra Madre mountains. It has now come to the notice of scientists who are surprised as to how such a discovery eluded them for so long. The Giant Lizard perches on trees and lives on the fruits of those trees. This is the third fruit eating lizard in the world. Belonging to the family of Komodo dragons these lizards are usually colored blue, green and yellow. With more than 7000 islands, Philippines is one of the richest countries when it comes to biodiversity.
A group of scientists from the US, the Netherlands and the Philippines have come together to conduct a research on this species of lizards. They have also published the results of this research in the “Royal Society Journal Biology Letters”.
Amid extensive deforestation, the rich biological collection of the Philippines faces danger of extinction. This unique lizard species was detected by US researcher Luke Welton while on a trip to the jungles. At the very first look he and his fellow University of Kansas researchers noticed the uncommonly huge size, long nostrils and body color of the lizard. The dragon lizard which weighs almost 22 pounds is a source of meat to the tribes living in the mountains of north Philippines. It was unknown to western researchers till today but has provided meat to generations of tribal people in the Philippines islands.
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Tags: danger of extinction, dragon lizard, fellow university, giant lizard, gina gomez, journal biology, jungles, komodo dragons, living in the mountains, lizard, lizard species, perches, philippines islands, phillipines, richest countries, sierra madre mountains, species of lizards, university of kansas, welton, western researchers