Discovering the Rare and Mysterious Earless Monitor Lizards of Kalimantan

ANTARIKSA — Little is known about the real life of earless monitor lizards in the rainforests of Kalimantan. So far, the government has only been able to study the behavior of Lanthanotus Borneensis while living in captivity.

For scientists, the earless monitor lizard is a very rare dragon-like reptile. Because of this, he was nicknamed the ‘Holy Grail’ or keystone species in Herpetology, the science that studies reptiles and amphibians.

The following are a number of facts about Lanthanotus Borneensis, a small dragon from Kalimantan, according to the Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) and various sources:

– Accidental discovery

The earless lizard is now one of the endemic animals of Kalimantan. Also called the Bornean lizard, the animal was first found under leaf litter near a rocky river in Landak district, Kalimantan on May 30, 2008.

Also read: Small dragons from Kalimantan still confuse scientists

– Very Rarely Appears

The habitat and distribution of earless monitor lizards can be found in areas near rivers. It is active at night as an amphibian, sometimes in water and also on land. The reptile appears so rarely that its behavior or habits cannot be observed.

– Listening without Ears, Seeing with Eyes Closed

The general characteristics of earless lizards are that they have no gular folds, a blunt nose, and of course no external ears. However, he could still hear. Its eyelids are transparent so that when in the water, it doesn’t need to open its eyes to see its prey.

– Grasping with the Tail

Monitor lizards can grow up to 50 centimeters long, with slender bodies and small limbs. It has a long tail which it uses to grasp its food, such as earthworms, crabs and fish.

Two earless monitor lizards (Lanthanotus borneensis) living in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Image: Getty Images/Reptiles4all

– Dragon Skin

The whole body of the earless lizard is covered in a combination of dark and light brown skin like a dragon. The teeth on the skin are arranged regularly, in the form of a line from the head to the tail. Each of his feet is equipped with five fingers with sharp nails.

2023-11-07 23:01:00
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