The Care-taker's Diary
The Walking crawlies.
February 19, 2008

The Lizards of Haller Park

NILE MONITOR LIZARD

Varanus niloticus - Monitor lizards are considered to be the most highly developed lizards, possessing a relatively rapid metabolism for reptiles, several sensory adaptations that benefit the hunting of live prey, and a lower jaw that may be unhinged to facilitate eating large prey animals. It has been said that the name of monitor lizards is derived from a superstition that the creatures would give a warning about the presence of crocodiles, the name actually resulted from a mishearing of the Arabic word oaran (lizard) as the German warnen (to warn), which was subsequently Latinized into monitor.

They all have very long claws and a tail which can be used to lash out at the smallest sign of aggression. Don't be fooled by their size, since a lash from even the smallest Monitor can leave a serious welt. Unlike many lizards, the monitor lizard cannot grow its tail back if it is lost.

Monitor Lizard Basking in Haller ParkMonitor Lizard Basking in the sun

Along with these natural defenses, the monitor uses poise to frighten off its predators. Standing alert with their heads to the sky, the monitor will often puff out their throats and whip their tail, putting on a fearsome display. Their ribs may expand slightly as they hiss making this lizard actually appear larger than it really is.

The monitor's diet consists of anything it can get its claws on, anything that it can fit in its mouth, from fish, beetles, whip scorpions, crocodile and birds, to eggs, crabs, other lizards, snakes, nestling birds, and squirrels.

Monitor Lizards chilling out Monitior Lizard chilling out

To reproduce, monitors often lay from 7-35 soft-shelled eggs in a hole dug near a riverbank or grove of trees along the water. Varanus niloticus lays her eggs in termite mounds. The heat from the termites in the mound helps incubate the eggs.

In Haller Park this lizard is distributed in all the wetlands of the Ecosystem and also at the Reptile Park where they are kept for a close range viewing and education purposes.

Agama Lizards

An agama is any one of the various small, long-tailed, insect-eating lizards. These Agama Lizards are found in open savannahs in Kenya, Ethiopia and throughout East Africa. They are terrestrial but also arboreal and prefer to flee to a tree when in danger. They are not poisonous, but can give a very painful bite. They prefer to eat ants and termites with occasional beetles and grasshoppers.

 

An Agama Lizard - only reptile known to do press upsAn Agama Lizard - only reptile known to do press ups

The agama is mostly a docile lizard There are several identifiable behaviors in this species (head nod, head bob, challenge display, threat display, fighting, and basking). Head bobbing, also known as push-ups, is the raising and lowering of the head and chest. Hunting by vision, it sits in vegetation, under a rock outcropping, or in the shade and waits until an insect or small mammal walks by and then will chase the prey

Sally shares her dairy Cubes with a monitor lizard and Egyptian geeseSally shares her dairy Cubes with a monitor lizard and Egyptian geese
Comments
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Tammy from VT
Sally shares her food with the wildlife around her, what a great girl she is!
David from Paris, Europe
Great news, I am really happy that an agreement has been found.... To Jackie, I couldn't find a flight to Mombasa. But I am looking forward... Best to all.
Ruth - Florida
We would love to have an update on Owen & Cleo
Rosalynd from Massachusetts
Paula - the Mara animals are amazing too. And your friend with her capri pants! Thanks for checking in and thanks for posting!
Rozy
It's great to check in now and then even though you are not blogging as often as when Owen was a "little" guy. I appreciate the photos and stories about the other animals as well as updates on Owen and Cleo. Thanks for keeping this site going!
Paula from WildlifeDirect
I was recently in the Mara and saw two tiny baby hippos, reminded me so much of little Owen I had to come back and read up on this blog. You can read my Mara blog posts and listen to podcasts about lions and warthogs, rangers and more on www.baraza.wildlifedirect.org
Rosalynd from Massachusetts
Patricia - that is fantastic news, about the peace deal. Thanks for letting us know. We worry about our friends in Kenya!
Patricia - Editorial team
Hi guys YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!! an agreement was signed and so peace at last. Thanks for all your concerns and prayers for us. Jackie we hope to see you soon. The problem with the blog is being addressed unfortunately is taking longer than anticipated. I hope to have it resolved in 2 weeks time. Thank you all for your continued support.
jackie from switzerland again
Just want to let all of you know that Jim is OK. As soon as he's straightened out his pc issues, he'll be back. Dear Webmaster, it would be such a shame if some of the old bloggers aren't writing anymore because they don't see the diary...could you possibly correct the blank space problem? thanks so much!
jackie from switzerland
david - are you going?
David from Paris, Europe
Very interresting update (another one ;)) The Agama Lizard is an odd creature... Seems like Sally doesn't mind this little intruder... I didn't see any news from Kenya on TV, lately. I hope the two sides have found an agreement... Take care.
Angela from Rogersville, MO USA
Awesome pictures! I really enjoy reading the updates and the new, interesting information about the animals and insects. I hope all is well at the park and with Kenya. I've been watching the news and praying for you all. Take care and God bless.
Rosalynd from Massachusetts
Could we please have an update on Sabine, Stephen, Owen & Mzee and Cleo sometime? Even without photos would be okay. We like our "new" friends and truly miss our old friends too. Hope all is well with you there - heard some troubling news about conditions and very much hope you are safe from that. (Speaking of old friends, Jackie - let me know if that call worked out, okay? Thanks!)
jackie from switzerland
whoever is responsible for the picture captioning is doing a great job - the captions are adorable.
Rosalynd from Massachusetts
I just had a few minutes to really read through your info on the lizards. Very interesting. They really are gorgeous. Can't help but wonder now if that monitor was musing as to whether his jaw could dislocate enough to devour Sally! Thanks again. (P.S. We're very happy not to be hearing any news out of Kenya - hopefully no news (about riots & etc) is good news!)
Lisa from Boston, MA, USA
cool pix! There were some sort of little lizards around when I lived in Southern California too - very cool, very fast, very cute... ate some kind of bugs, but they were so FAST - no idea what kind!
Cheryl from Canada
I love that these animals are living together in harmony! Thanks again for another great update.
Kathy in Caifornia
could we see what owen and cleo are up to now?
Sandy in Dallas
What a wonderful way to observe lizards without having to get too close..! It's great to see the animals all interacting together. Good job! Thanks for your efforts.
Sue from Michigan USA
I love to hear about the life of Haller Park, and see the great photos. I think about you good people and send all good wishes.
Oyama Naku
All I can say, each and every time I read a Lafarge Ecosystems' blog ~ THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART that there are dedicated, very intelligent people committed to educating the world about the animal kingdom. I have learned so much from you folks.
Rosalynd from Massachusetts
Another great update. Always like a mini-vacation, always most welcome and appreciated. No word from Jim on my end lately. Hope to see him here again soon!
jackie from switzerland
What an interesting update (they are ALL interesting!). The monitor lizard reminds me of myself when I see Haagen Daz ice-cream (a treat here in Switzerland), due to the lower jaw that may be unhinged to facilitate eating. The Agama is really adorable, what a head! But admittedly (sp), I still have , as my screen saver, the picture of Kauz the Owl, he is just gorgeous. To Kim from Buffalo, a few of us are also concerned about Jim, has anyone heard from him lately?
Rozy
Thank you for sharing the monitor lizard photo with Sally. Do the lizards feel threatened if Sally comes (how) close? Or does Sally even pay attention to them? Thank you so much for keeping this site going!
kim - buffalo ny
great info / pictures - good to see sally - thanks for update - and jim - are you still out there - have not seen posts from you in some time - hope you are well - thanks to all at haller park for informative info - hugs and kisses to owen/ mzee/ cleo and all the animals
Mary from SD
Great pictures once again. Thanks!
 
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Stephen Tuei is the chief animal caretaker for Lafarge Eco Systems and has over 20 years of experience in handling wild animals.