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Spectacular new species giant fruit-eating monitor lizard has been discovered by an international team of biologists in the Sierra Madres of the northern Philippines.

The scientific name of the new species was Varanus bitatawa. The first specimens were obtained by Mr. Roldan Dugay and Dr. Arvin Diesmos, curator of hepetology at the national museum, Manila.

This monitor lizard is known among local residents as Butikaw. It grows up to two meters long and eatas mainly fruit and snails.

Through the analysis of its physical features and its DNA, scientists have determined that it is distinct but closely related to two other fruit-eating monitor lizards in the Philippines. It is also different from the more common meat-eating water monitor lizard or Bayawak. The new species is more secretive and spends most of its time up on trees in the forests of the Northern Sierra Madre mountain range of Luzon.