Large, thin, lizard (over 1 meter)
Two days ago I saw this big lizard and managed to get a photo. It is at least a meter long from head to tail (probably longer, the tail is really long). Still it isn’t huge since it is very narrow (more like a snake with legs than anything else).
A few months ago I saw a really big lizard 1 block from the CIQ. It was easily 2 meters long (head to end of the tail) and quite large (stout). I was standing for awhile looking at this cool patch of wild greenery. All of a sudden I heard a noise and looked down; this large lizard probably got tired of me standing so and moved quickly into the brush. I hadn’t seen it. I would guess it was sunning itself, before I wandered over. Too bad I didn’t have my camera ready.
Close up of the large, thin, lizard (shown above)
A few weeks ago I saw one in between the size of those 2 (more like the stout one) that leaped into the undergrowth before I got a good look.
And today I saw another one (like the one in the photo) in a park near KSL Mall. It was maybe 700 cm or so. That is it for my large lizard spotting in Johor Bahru. I do see these little guys in my condo occasionally.
I do wonder what the largest ones eat. People keep chickens and feed neighborhood cats (as far as I can tell they are stray cats). I would think those lizards could get young chickens and cats maybe. I also wonder if the cats get any of the young chicks. I would imagine people wouldn’t like that too much. I guess the adult chickens are pretty good at keeping the cats at bay. They mill around right next to each other and I haven’t seen any cat stalking them. I see the cats stalking each other a fair amount (the young ones).
I haven’t seen lizard or snake on the menu anywhere here. I’m sure it probably is I just haven’t noticed it (in a bunch of places they don’t have menus in English. I have seen frog and deer and wild boar (and of course squid is common and I really like it). When I have had alligator or snake I have liked it. Nice lean meat.
If you know what type of lizards are in the photos (and what the larger one might be) please mention it, in a comment.
from the look of the picture, it is what i call biawak (in local language). I do not know in Semenanjung but people do eat them here in Sarawak. But if you ask me where is the restaurant, i myself do not know.
In Malaysia these lizards are called monitor lizards – that’s the English name, the Malay name for it is “biawak”. These lizards are mostly scavengers, they feed on almost anything – carcasses, food thrown away by people, etc. They can grow to about 5 to 6 feet in length.
Some Malaysians, usually the local Chinese, eat these lizards. The lizard meat is simmered in a clear soup with traditional Chinese aromatic herbs. Some restaurants, mostly operated by Chinese owners, that specialize in bush meat may offer this on their menu. These restaurants are not common, though, and can be hard to find.
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