New Giant Lizard

He has a penis twice as long as a great man, and lives in a densely populated area of the Philippines. But somehow the giant lizard Varanus bitatawa remained undiscovered by science so far.

Philippine Long to tribal fighters known lizard is identified as a new species in 2009 on his DNA, cups, penis size and specific, according to a new study.

In about six feet six inches (two meters) long, the new species is closely related lizard lizard in the world's largest life, the Komodo dragon. Unlike Komodo, Varanus bitatawa but become a vegetarian.

(Reference: "new fossil is the world's oldest plant-eating Lizard.")

The lizard was discovered "as an unparalleled surprise, not least their own island, Luzon, because bitatawa V." is densely populated and tidy, "write the authors of the study in the journal Biology Letters on Wednesday.

As the Giant Lizard Hid Out Of Science

The researchers suspect that the 22 pounds (10 kilograms), lizards escaped scientific detection until now because I have some reptiles studies of mountain forests have been inhabited bitatawa V..

This fruit-eating lizards are "incredible secret," said team member study and a biologist Daniel Bennett Mampam conservation.

"You can stay in this forest for years and have absolutely no idea who they are," said Bennett. "They spend all their time in trees over 20 meters [66 meters above the ground]." Comparable lizard species spend less than 20 minutes on the field every week, "he added.

(Reference: "Scientific Council lizard: Look Up").

But while scientists were not aware of the lizard, its existence is not surprising that the resident tribal members who hunt the animals for meat.

Photos of the hunters with the delicacy lizard in 2001 led the expedition team two months to find the elusive species last summer.

(Reference: "Lizards designed to withstand rapid Deadly fire ants.")

Split penis shows the way

The team of two specimens in captivity bitatawa V. and the very rare but closely related Gray lizard (Varanus olivaceus), another native Philippines.

Capture of two lizard species is crucial, "said Bennett, as it allowed the team to two monitors side-by-side to take the subtle differences that determine whether animals can represent recognize species.

More significantly, the train was observed at two ends of the penis and lizards. The shape of these reptiles is a characteristic of each species.

(Reference: "Barnacles can change the size and shape of the penis.")

The giant lizard found, "adds the recognition of the Philippines as a global hot spot and maintenance of a regional superpower of biodiversity", says the research team.

And Bennett finds it "very likely" scientists could more unknown species of lizard in the Philippines, when threatened rainforest habitat disappears before discovering available.