True monitors gave rise to the largest known terrestrial squamates ever to exist. ![]() Varanus komodoensis is the largest species of living lizards Skeleton of Varanus priscus at Melbourne Museum The tail usually remains striped into adulthood, and many members have a long section at the end of their tails being white or lightly coloured, which is especially common in Australian species. True monitors are usually born with thick stripes of highly contrasting colours on their bodies, which would slowly morph into the loose speckles or stripes of an adult. The perentie, however, has exceptionally long limbs with their bodies lifted high above the ground, giving them astonishing maneuverability and allowing them to truely run on all fours. Most true monitors have lean bodies with long tails that can take up over half of their entire body length, but the largest species are very robust and have proportionally short tails. The tails are heavy and muscluar, being thick at the base and laterally compressed towards the end. Like all monitors, they have slender, elongated necks. Their tongues are forked like a snake's, which they use to pick up scent. Their teeth are curved, serrated and concealed by thick lips, making them invisible even if their mouths are open. True monitors are characterized by their wide skulls and strong jaws, with the nostrils cranially positioned on the sides of their snout. ![]() Description Varanus varius has the typical body built of a true monitor All of its species are found in the Australasian realm, among which are the World's largest lizards. Varanus, commonly known as true monitors, is one of the 11 subgenera of the genus Varanus.
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