Lizard

Lizard is a lizard that is considered as one of the largest types of lizards in the world. A total of 53 species are identified worldwide. Meanwhile, more than 40% of all lizard species in the world are found in Indonesia and the rest are found in Asia, America, Australia and Africa.  Lizards belong to the transitional fauna that spread almost throughout Indonesia, ranging from the western part of Indonesia to the eastern part of Indonesia. 

The lizard comes from the Arabic word 'warrant' which means the monitor.  Physically, the lizard can lift itself vertically by supporting both the hind legs and the tail so as to have a clearer and higher view of its surroundings. Based on these indicators then the naming in English is 'monitor lizard' (Pianka et al, 2004; Parameswari, 2012). In Indonesia, naming lizard has its own call, such as bayawak (Sunda), or nyambik (java), bersekai (Madura), and in Nias language called boroe.  

Uniquely again naming lizard is used as the name of one of the islands in the district of Indramayu, West Java, namely Island Biawak. The uniqueness of this island lizard is the existence of species of Asian water lizard (Varanus salvator) which most of its spreading covering area of ​​Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan. This species has a body length of about one to 2.5 meters.  Based on writings from Parameswari (2012), monitor lizards are opportunistic predators that can change their feed patterns based on the availability of feed in their habitats.  In the male lizard there is a pair of hemipenis shaped like a sac, located at the base of the tail and cause a bulge in the ventral tail. Whereas in female lizard have a pair of oviduk and ovarium. The ovary lies in the same position as the testes in the male lizard in the dorsomedial abdominal cavity.  The main determinant of sexual maturity in lizards is body size. Age is considered not too influential on sexual maturity because it is different between wildcard lizards and captivity. Age of sexual mafia sexual maturity ranges from 3-4 years, while the age of sexual mafia in captive breeding can not be determined because it is influenced by different treatments and feed.  The mating season in monitor lizards is determined by temperature, rain and feed availability. Male lizards will become aggressive and maintain territoriality when the breeding season. The frequency of reproduction of lizards depends on the environmental conditions and nutrition of the lizard. The lizard is ovipar and can produce eggs more than once a year.  The survival of monitor lizards can be disrupted due to environmental degradation, pollution, and human activities. In some areas, lizards processed meat into a variety of dishes. Consumers of lizard meat are increased because lizard meat is believed to act as an aphrodisiac and has properties to treat itching, smooth the skin, treat burns, and tighten the breasts.  On the other hand, monitor lizards are the main carnivores that are susceptible to environmental pollutants and toxins that can lead to disease and genetic mutations. Lizards that eat amphibians, insects, or mammals that are exposed to environmental pollutants may experience genetic mutations thereby decreasing their ability to survive.