ໂຕແລນ, ນາກາເດ້ (ມົ້ງ) ( Clouded Monitor)

Monitor nebulosus Gray, 1831
Varanus bengalensis subsp. nebulosus (Gray, 1831)
Varanus bengalensis subsp. vietnamensis Yang & Liu, 1994
Varanus vietnamensis Yang & Liu, 1994

Bengal monitor lizard

This species is large and characterised by its strong head, legs, and tail. The tail is particularly notable, being about 1.5 times longer than the standard body length (SVL). It has a unique shape, being laterally flattened with a keel on top, which helps in its movement.
The scales on the tail are interesting as well; the lateral scales (those on the sides) are much smaller than the scales underneath. This difference in scale size can be quite striking.
The head of this species has some distinctive features. The scales above the eyes are enlarged, giving it a more pronounced appearance. The nostrils are slit-shaped, which is a key identification trait, although they are rounded in younger specimens. These nostrils are positioned between the eye and the tip of the snout, which is often bulgy, especially in larger individuals.
Along the belly, there are 70 to 90 scale rows that run from the neck wrinkle to the front edge of the hind legs. This scale arrangement is important for understanding the species' anatomy and can help in identifying it in the wild.
Size and age at sexual maturity: size less 22.5 (or 28.9) cm SVL tip snout to Vent), in nature. at the age of 2.5-3 years. It has 9-27 eggs per clutch depending on the size of the female; 1-2 clutches per year; minimum time span of 49 days between two clutches. Incubation period 234-282 days.
Lifestyle: Diurnal mainly ground dwelling; eats mainly invertebrates such as insects, spider and scorpions
Sources: [4]

Native to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China (Yunnan), India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat), Indonesia (Jawa), Iran, Islamic Republic of, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam, Indonesia.
Distribution area between 1896 and 2024. Source: [5]

North Laos Highlands
Northern Mekong Corridor
Annamite Highlands and Xieng Khuang Plateau
Vientiane Plain
Northern Annamites
Central Annamites
Lower Annamites
Southern Annamites
Southern Mekong Corridor
Boloven Plateau

Plantation forest
Mixed deciduous forest
Dry dipterocarp forest
Mixed coniferous and broadleaved forest
Old bush fallow
Riparian vegetation
Marshes and peatlands

Endemic

Not invasive

Near threatened

List I: Prohibited species

Use prohibited

This species is either threatened or vulnerable. Therefore, the PKL team recommends abstaining from collecting it in the wild. The same applies to purchasing it on markets or using any of its parts, except if the species has been domesticated and the purchased specimen stems from a cultivation.

Wild

June
July
August
September

Habitat preservation (habitat needs, threats, mitigation, and restoration)
The biggest threat to this species is hunting, as they are hunted for their skin (domestic) and meat for food, and for their fat for medical purposes. [5]

The species is found in several protected areas across vast territories and is protected by the laws of several countries, including Laos, as it is currently on Appendix I of CITES, prohibiting legal export.[5]

ກົດໝາຍວ່າດ້ວຍສັດປ່າ (ສະບັບປັບປຸ່ງ). [7]
ຂໍ້ຕົກລົງວ່າດ້ວຍການຮອງຮັບເອົາບັນຊີສັດນ້ຳ ແລະ ສັດປ່າ ປະເພດຫວງຫ້າມ ຫຼື ບັນຊີທີ່ I ແລະ ປະເພດຄຸ້ມຄອງປະເພດທີ່ II. [6]

Not applicable

N/A

Nutrient	/100g	Remark
Proteins	N/A	N/A
Carbohydrates	N/A	N/A
Fats	N/A	N/A
Vitamins	N/A	N/A
Minerals	N/A	N/A
Fibers	N/A	N/A

Young Bengal Monitor. [1] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 1 June 2024 by: Ajak King.
Available: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/219690584. [Accessed: 1 October 2024]
Full Body of Bengal Monitor. [2] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 24 September 2021 by: Cheongweei
Gan. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/95942809. [Accessed: 1 October 2024]
Header of Bengal Monitor. [3] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 6 March 2024 by: nickdobbs.
Available: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/201393406. [Accessed: 1 October 2024]

[4] A. Auliya and B. Koch, " Visual Identification Guide to the Monitor
Lizard Species of the World (Genus Varanus)" *CITES*, 2020. [Online]. Available: file:///C:/Users/duang/Downloads/Auliya-Koch-2020.pdf. [Accessed: Oct. 1, 2024].
[5] Cota, M., Stuart, B.L., Grismer, L., Quah, E., Panitvong, N.,
Neang, T., Nguyen, N.S., Wogan, G., Lwin, K., Srinivasulu, C., Srinivasulu, B., Vijayakumar, S.P., Ramesh, M., Ganesan, S.R., Madala, M., Sreekar, R., Rao, D.-Q., Thakur, S., Mohapatra, P. & Vyas, R. 2021. Varanus bengalensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T164579A1058949. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T164579A1058949.en. [Accessed on 27 February 2024.]
[6] ກອງທຶນປົກປັກຮັກສາສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ Environment Protection Fund
"ຂໍ້ຕົກລົງວ່າດ້ວຍການຮັບຮັບເອົາບັນຊີ ສັດນ້ຳ ແລະ ສັດປ່າ ປະເພດຫວງຫ້າມ ຫຼື ບັນຊີ I, II ແລະ III", 2022 [Online]. Available: https://shorturl.at/Wf1mp. [Accessed: Oct. 1, 2024].
[7] National Assembly of Lao PDR, "ກົດໝາຍວ່າດ້ວຍສັດປ່າ (ສະບັບປັບ
ປຸ່ງ)” 2023 [Online]. Available: https://shorturl.at/8L6OO. [Ac-cessed: Oct. 1, 2024].