The rediscovery of the Common Water Monitor Lizard Varanus salvator (Squamata: Varanidae) in northern Myanmar

Abstract

On 09 June 2015, a Common Water Monitor Varanus salvator (Laurenti, 1768) was observed and photographed (Image 1) on the campus of Banmaw University, Banmaw (Bhamo), Kachin State, Myanmar (24018’15”N & 97015’52”E). Subsequently, a second individual was observed 140km to the west at Banmauk, Sagaing Division (24024’N & 95051’E). These two observations are the first records of Varanus salvator from Upper Myanmar since Anderson (1878). It would be interesting to conduct follow-up studies to determine whether this is indeed a relict northern population.

Keywords

• Water Monitor Lizard
• Varanus salvator
• Myanmar