Abstract
Monitor lizards are thought to be diurnal, based on a body of ecological research and on eye structure. Studies of the eye structure of Varanus exanthematicus and V. griseus have suggested that prey capture in these species is reliant on visual cues, based on the presence of cone cells in the eyes (Bhattacharjee 1992. Exp. Eye Res. 55:243; Röll and Horn 2000. Mertensiella 2:291–306). The morphological similarity of monitor lizards led Röll and Horn (op. cit.) to conclude that all Varanus species possess the same or similar eye structure and therefore all are diurnal.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 687-688 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Herpetolgiocal Review |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |