Borneo Earless Monitor - The Holy Grail of the Reptile World

The earless monitor lizard (Lanthanotus borneensis) is a semi-aquatic, brown reptile native to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. It is the sole surviving species in the family Lanthanotidae and is closely related to the true monitor lizards. This unique lizard was first documented in 1878 by Franz Steindachner. The genus name Lanthanotus, meaning "hidden ear," and the species name borneensis, indicating its origin from Borneo, were assigned to it. Steindachner promptly recognized its distinctiveness and classified it into its own family, Lanthanotidae. However, in 1899, George Albert Boulenger... E arless Monitor Lizard ( Lanthanotus borneensis )