Lizard finds Squirrel in Cage, breaks in--Eats Squirrel
Found a squirrel in a trap during an interview.
Dino is a sweet lovable lizard. ❤
Inspired by our behind-the-scenes friend at Coyote Peterson's Brave Wilderness. Many thanks for tips, hints, and inspiration. We love you guys; keep up the great work.
Video was filmed on May 19, 2015 of a white-throated monitor (Varanus albigularis albigularis) during a feeding day.
Lizard given a frozen-thawed feeder squirrel edited into video; homage to virtually every wildlife show, a flare for dramatic effect.
Squirrels are rodents, and rodents are an important part of monitor lizard's natural diet.
Video is part of a body of work that focuses on the science of reptile behavior that supported a master's thesis in zoology. Member of our crew is working on a PhD in reptile venom research.
As seen in video, the lizard smells using tip of his tongue which rubs against a jacobson's organ (located roof of mouth) and the forked tongue--split into two tines at the tip--is believed to allow them to sense from which direction "stereoscopically" a smell originates.
Following scent trails based on chemical cues is called tropotaxis. It's unclear whether forked-tongued reptiles can actually follow trails or if this is just a hypothesis. Study the video, what do you think?
Video is for the citation for junior high school, and high school science reports. Also recommended for college and graduate level source citation for zoological biostatistics.
Filmed with the University of Guadalajara for Biological and Agricultural Sciences, the division of Biological and Environmental Science Division, at the department of Botany and Zoology.