Philippinosaurus is one of the 11 subgenera of the genus Varanus. The group consists of three frugivorous species endemic to the Philippines.An Annotated Bibliography of Captive Reproduction in Monitor Lizards (Varanidae: Varanus). Part II. Empagusia and Philippinosaurus ROBERT W. MENDYK Biawak, 11(1), pp. 40–49, 2017 by International Varanid Interest Group
A fossil monitor species, †V. hooijeri from the Holocene of Flores, is closely affiliated with this clade and is also interpreted as being frugivorous.
Feeding habits Unlike other members of the Varanus genus, species belonging to Philippinosaurus are frugivorous. While V. bitatawa and V. olivaceus also supplement their diet of fruit with insects and snails, V. mabitang feeds exclusively on fruit. Auffenberg W 1988. Gray’s Monitor Lizard. Univ. Florida Press, GainesvilleThe Arboreal Foraging Behavior of the Frugivorous Monitor Lizard Varanus olivaceus on Polillo Island, DANIEL BENNETT, Biawak, 8(1), pp. 15-18, 2014 by International Varanid Interest Group SpeciesPictureNorthern Sierra Madre forest monitor (V. bitatawa)Panay monitor (V. mabitang)Gray's monitor (V. olivaceus)
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