Notes of the feeding behaviour of the water monitor, Varanus salvator
1993
Traeholt, C. (Copenhagen Univ., Copenhagen (Denmark). Institute of Population Biology)
The present study reviews some behavioural aspects of the feeding behaviour of five individuals of the Malaysian Water Monitor lizard, Varanus salvator. Search patterns and hunting techniques are revealed which document that V. salvator exhibits are-concentrated foraging behaviour and that the principal hunting mode is "open pursuit" rather than stalking and ambushing. This species also shows a significant tendency to seize live mice and rats in the head/chest region. Prey is always devoured anterior end first and the prey is normally killed before it is devoured. Social facilitation of feeding behaviour between individual lizards is common, and no attempts at piracy were observed. The species shows a clear circadian rhythm; however, the timing of peak acitivity shows inter-individual variability. Given the opportunity to feed on live fish the lizards showed no signs of being able to catch them
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