Squirrel in House–Lizard goes after Squirrel, then Eats It

Squirrel in House–Lizard goes after Squirrel, then Eats It

Komodo dragon-sized water monitor climbs stairway to hunt a squirrel. Slides down stairs. Super cute!

Rex is a sweet lovable lizard. ❤

Squirrels are rodents, and rodents are an important part of a monitor lizard’s natural diet.

Video was filmed on April 26, 2018 of an Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) taking a squirrel during feeding day.

Video is part of a body of work that focuses on the science of reptile behavior that supported a master’s thesis in zoology. Currently working on PhD in reptile venom research.

As seen in video, the lizard smells in “3D” or “stereoscopically” (left, right, up/down) using tip of his forked tongue which rubs against a jacobson’s organ located roof of mouth. The forked tongue which is 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.