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I found this old print from 1801. The monitor is described as a "Der Wachhalter" (Lacerta Monitor)

Just curious about others thoughts and comments?
-Holly-

If the pic won't load go here
http://photobucket.com/albums/v168/esoteric_imagery/Lizard/?action=view¤t=monitorunknown1810.jpg

I hope?
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Here's the pic for you...no clue what it could be but it's interesting still. Thanks for sharing!

~Katie

(I couldn't see the pic which is why I put it in here )

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2.4 Cornsnakes (Slink, Shadow, Suzie, Snickers, Selena, Sunshine)
0.1 Columbian Red Tail Boa (Baby)
0.3 Leopard Geckos (Cutie, Lily, and Miss Piggy)
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Sam)
0.2 Pac Man Frogs (Gordito and Spud)
0.1 Suriname Toad (Squishy & the Squishettes)
0.0.2 Giant Millipede (Mega & Mila)
0.0.1 Green Iguana (Iggy)
0.0.1 Red Eared Slider (Tiny)
lots of snails and fish...

The second one has a stark similarity to a basilisk and may not be a monitor at all. It's hard to say what goes through the minds of those in 1801; was the earth flat back then?

Those are some interesting drawings... The first photo somewhat resembles Varanus macraei, having a black background with blue ocelli across its back, as well as a forked tongue. Of course the body morphology is disproportioned and all... As for the second photo, along with resembling a basilisk, I would say that it also resembles a Sailfin Lizard (Hydrosaurus sp.), and if these drawings were made on the same 'expedition' or trip, it would make sense that it is of some varanid species(macraei?) and of a sailfin lizard species, as geographically, both are found within Indonesia.. Quite possible...

Great photos, and thanks for sharing them. Where did you find them by the way?? Here is the original color plate of V. prasinus, done back in 1845 by Schlegel. Thanks for sharing!

Cheers,

Bob

I have a tendency of doing that..hahaha.. here it is:

I believe it was Varanus salvator being called Lacerta monitor

Varanus salvator (Laurenti, 1768)
Synonym : Lacerta monitor Linnaeus, 1758 (part.; suppressed)

So in your pictures you would have a water monitor and a sailfin dragon. They actually did a pretty good job on the sailfin dragon.

I would of guessed blue spot timor monitor just looking at the drawing.

lol!

THe bottom one is not a monitor, it was just on the same page. I find alot of unusual monitor stuff on ebay. ALOT of monitor skins for sale... very sad... I did however find and buy an exceptional old plate of 2 lace monitors raiding a ground nest. I'd show ya if my scanner wasn't broken. I too think it looks like a tree monitor of some kind. Thanks for the responses, and the green tree is REALLY nice!
-H-