Emerald Tree Monitor

Emerald Tree Monitor

Green tree monitor

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Varanus prasinus
Population size
Unknown
Life Span
10-15 years
Top speed
35
22
km/hmph
km/h mph 
Weight
300
11
goz
g oz 
Length
75-100
29.5-39.4
cminch
cm inch 

The emerald tree monitor (Varanus prasinus ) or green tree monitor, is a small to medium-sized arboreal monitor lizard. It is known for its unusual coloration, which consists of shades from green to turquoise, topped with dark, transverse dorsal banding. This coloration helps camouflage it in its arboreal habitat. Its color also makes the emerald tree monitor highly prized in both the pet trade and zoos alike.

Di

Diurnal

Ca

Carnivore

In

Insectivores

Ar

Arboreal

Is

Island endemic

Sc

Scansorial

Ov

Oviparous

Pr

Precocial

Pr

Predator

So

Social

Do

Dominance hierarchy

No

Not a migrant

E

starts with

Appearance

The Emerald tree monitor is an arboreal lizard known for its unusual coloration, which consists of shades from green to turquoise, topped with dark, transverse dorsal banding. This coloration helps camouflage it in its arboreal habitat. Its color also makes the Emerald tree monitor highly prized in both the pet trade and zoos alike.

Distribution

Geography

Emerald tree monitors can be found on the island of New Guinea (split between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) as well as several adjacent islands, and the northern Torres Strait Islands. They live in lowland environments, including tropical evergreen forests, palm swamps, and cocoa plantations.

Emerald Tree Monitor habitat map

Climate zones

Emerald Tree Monitor habitat map
Emerald Tree Monitor
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Habits and Lifestyle

Emerald tree monitors live in small groups made up of a dominant male, several females, and a few other males and juveniles. These monitors spend most of their lives in trees and rarely come down to the forest floor; their long slender bodies help them support themselves on narrow branches and they use their prehensile tails and long claws to grip branches. Emerald tree monitors are active during the day and catch prey in trees. When threatened, they will flee through vegetation or bite if cornered.

Group name
Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Emerald tree monitors have a carnivorous diet which consists of large tree-dwelling katydids, grasshoppers, stick insects, cockroaches, beetles, centipedes, spiders, and crabs. They will also hunt birds and small mammals.

Mating Habits

REPRODUCTION SEASON
year-round
PREGNANCY DURATION
154 to 190 d
INCUBATION PERIOD
160-190 days
BABY CARRYING
up to 5 eggs
INDEPENDENT AGE
at birth
BABY NAME
hatchling
web.animal_clutch_size
3

Little is known about the mating system of Emerald tree monitors. Females lay three clutches throughout the year and consist of up to five eggs; each egg weighs 10.5-11.5 g (0.37-0.41 oz) and measures about 2 by 4.5 cm (0.79 by 1.77 in). Females lay their eggs in arboreal termite nests. The eggs hatch between 160 and 190 days later, typically from June to November, after which the young eat the termites and the termite's eggs within minutes of hatching. Young Emerald tree monitors usually become reproductively mature in about one year.

Population

Population threats

Emerald tree monitors don’t face any major threats at present.

Population number

According to IUCN Red List, the Emerald tree monitor is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • The Emerald tree monitor is known as wbl km in the Kalam language of Papua New Guinea.
  • The soles of the feet of the Emerald tree monitor have enlarged scales and aid the lizard when climbing.
  • Before swallowing stick insects, Emerald tree monitors tear off the legs.

Coloring Pages

References

1. Emerald tree monitor Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_tree_monitor
2. Emerald tree monitor on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42485751/101752115

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