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

• DOI: 10.11609/jott.2746.8.5.8827-8828
• Publication Date: 2016-05-26T01:37:09Z
• Authors: Sai Sein Lin Oo; Paul Jeremy James...
• Keywords: Varanus salvator; 0106 biological sciences; Ecology; General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution; Myanmar; Water Monitor Lizard; QH1-199.5; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; QH540-549.5

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.