Hi Sam,



One should also take into consideration 'time-sharing' in varanid population closely associated within a small geographic area where interaction increases. Some animals may bask/forage earlier than others, before/after others, after others during the dawn, day, dusk hours.



Because there are a few reports on nocutrnal activity reported in wild population does not presume to equate they are all nocturanl/diurnal apex predators. They are "predators" and that does not leave much room for "interpitation" (= haha). They are opportunistic and highly adaptable animals, able to adpt to varying habitats, habitats, scenarios within their niches.



I have a photograph of a V. exanthematicus literally "sleep-walking", but that is only 1 incident out of keeping V. exanthematicus from 1981-1995, or 5,110 nights. As you have observed, that is indicative a behavior steered towards diurnal based activity periods. Varanids are adaptable, and perhaps these rare nocturnal behaviors observed are merely examples of their pre-egg deposition behaviors, where egg deposition for the most part takes part during the nocturnal hours - and there are reports of them also doing this during the dawn and dusk hours as well - but basically deposit eggs at night. Why do they do this? Instead of burning books, try reading them!



You might learn a thing or two or three, and for some of those you do not read as often as they should, it is known in pre-school years that exposure to words, whether they can spell or not, spelling and reading does improve with this exposure...and some people posting here regularly/hourly sure could use a few lessons in spelling...or just get a dictionary...they work quite well for helping one to learn how to spell. One does not use words like 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius' here, but they do use words like "interpretation" (= in-tur-pre-tae-shun, 5 syllables, etc.).



Cheers,

mbayless

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