Don't Miss
- Valley Native Bringing Advanced Oncology Services To UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center
- Los Fresnos Annual Cook-Off Is Right Around The Corner
- Los Fresnos Falcons Hold Meet and Greet for the Community
- Los Fresnos Locals Open Up a New Business in Town
- Jazz Orchestra Takes First Place at TMEA Competition
- Three tips to pick out a sweet watermelon
- Local Business Offers Scuba Training Programs
- The City of Los Fresnos Has Several Parks for Everyone to Enjoy
- South Padre Island 4th of July Activities
- City of Los Fresnos Holds Summer Luau for Elderly Community
Rare Monitor Lizards on Exhibit at Gladys Porter Zoo
- Updated: December 28, 2018
Special to La Feria News
Brownsville, Texas – We have two very special lizards new to the zoo!
These are Gray’s monitors (Varanus olivaceus), also called Butaan dragons! They came to us from the Los Angeles Zoo. We are very happy to have them on display in a newly renovated exhibit inside the Herpetarium.
Native to the Philippine Islands, Gray’s monitors are unique in terms of their feeding habits. Most monitor lizards, like Komodo dragons, are strictly carnivores. However, Gray’s monitors eat primarily fruit!
They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, primarily due to human consumption for food and habitat loss.
Please come visit the zoo to see them for yourselves!