|
Manila,
Luzon
 Themes
Regions
More
Information
| |
|
Lizards
|
|
|
|
Mga Tokó in the houses
Mga
Tokó, as the people in de Visayas call the small lizards,
are
living in houses and other buildings. The Tokó can be seen
as very useful, because they feed their selves with catching mosquitoes in the
houses and other buildings.Though
many Filipinos don't like these little creatures, like
many people don't like spiders, these
'mga toko' are in fact innocent.
The
mga toko
stick with their feet to ceilings and walls. They
never come down and even disappear quickly if a human being is coming near.
|
 |
|
Picture
right: ©
Nico
van der Drift |
| |
|
|
The "Water Monitor" is the largest lizard found in the Philippines,
growing up to 2
1/2 meters. It is locally known as "bayawak". The Water Monitor eats a variety of small animals, insects, fish, mollusks
and carrion. |
Varanus salvator cumingi
Picture:©
D. Bennett |
Different
species of lizards
In tropical
countries like the Philippines, live different species of Lizards. One
of the two important species is the "Mindanao Water Monitor",
the "Varanus salvator cumingi".
Because of its striking skin, this varanus has been hunted
for decennia. The skin is obtained for leather manufacturers in
Asia and Europe.
The Water Monitor prefers
living near fresh or salty water, which explains the name. The Water
Monitors are very good swimmers.
|
 |
|
The Varanus Salvador
The Varanus Salvador is found in Southern
Asia (India, Bangla Desh and in the foothills of the Himalayas ), in eastern Asia
( southern China) and in Southeast Asia. Though the government in the Philippines put a ban on reptile
exports, this lizard is still obtained for leather manufacturers in Asia and
Europe.
Map: The
Varanus Salvador in South
and Southeast Asia |
 |
|
)
