Posted by:
murrindindi
at Fri Nov 25 16:47:10 2011 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by murrindindi ]
Strictly speaking, they could be called land or tree monitors, too,at least to some extent, spending time in all those places. Like many varanid species, they are "generalists", they do have some adaptations for a semi aquatic lifesyle; flattened tail, valves that close the nares when submerged (though these actually open and close every time the animal breathes in or out), not just when submerged. They can also catch their "fish type" prey in either salt or fresh water, swim relatively long distances, and and in so doing, colonise many islands, etc, etc, because of those abilities... Is that what you were asking Frank, or have I misunderstood? (Nothing new there, then)!!
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