What monitor is this?

[nepoez]

My parents ran into another monitor today and showed me a photo. What's this? Looks so cool!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CeCpxSFbfTk/UqdiZtu6hDI/AAAAAAAAWPI/QTwxaAkeTGA/w619-h817-no/Screen+Shot+2013-12-10+at+11.52.40+AM.png

[murrindindi]

Hi, this is Varanus bengalensis (Bengal monitor), in exceptional cases they can get over 180cm ( 6 feet). They are not available in the pet trade these days, though not uncommon in some parts of their range.
This is mine from some years ago (sorry for the poor pic quality)!
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6897187226_81205a1285_z.jpg

[nepoez]

They're absolutely fantastic!

[murrindindi]

I`m not sure if they`re now separate species, but if not there`s also V. bengalensis nebulosus (Clouded monitor).
Edit: There`s a book written by the late Walter Auffenberg (previously regarded as one of the worlds leading authorities) titled "The Bengal monitor", he also wrote one on V. olivaceous (Gray`s monitor) and a very well known one on the Komodo dragon (I have copies and they are still available to buy, but quite expensive).

[nepoez]

All three books are no longer available?

[murrindindi]

All three books are no longer available?

Hi, as far as I know they ARE still available...
University Press of Florida: The Bengal Monitor (http://uk.search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0SO81x3lahSNnoAnHNLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTE1bmd0ZXV mBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNARjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkA1NNRVVLMzlfO DU-/SIG=11psm4muj/EXP=1386808823/**http%3a//upf.com/book.asp%3fid=AUFFEF94)

Gray's Monitor Lizard: Walter Auffenberg: 9780813008417: Amazon.com: Books (http://uk.search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0SO82IAlqhSxAMA5ydLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTE1bmd0ZXV mBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNARjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkA1NNRVVLMzlfO DU-/SIG=12u6hnfqu/EXP=1386808960/**http%3a//www.amazon.com/Grays-Monitor-Lizard-Walter-Auffenberg/dp/0813008417)

The Behavioral Ecology of the Komodo Monitor - Walter Auffenberg - Google Books (http://uk.search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0SO819ilqhS1BoAEtRLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTE1dmJiMGl oBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkA1NNRVVLMzlfO DU-/SIG=13p5e71uf/EXP=1386809058/**http%3a//books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_behavioral_ecology_of_the_Komodo_mon.html%3fid =MirXwMe94JgC)

If you`re interested in the Komodo dragon book try some of the larger bookstores, I`m sure someone will have either new or secondhand copies, alternatively contact "University Press of Florida". They are all well worth having in anyone`s collection.
You can also see if a library has copies of them to loan you....

[crocdoc]

Nepoez, in which country were your parents when they photographed the lizard? That would distinguish whether it is Varanus bengalensis or V. nebulosus.

Here are a couple of the latter I photographed in Singapore a couple of months ago:

http://www.pbase.com/crocdoc/image/152452111.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/crocdoc/image/152452120.jpg

[nepoez]

Very nice! It was Malaysia.

[crocdoc]

If it's Malaysia, that'll be Varanus nebulosus.

As Stefan mentioned, they may not be a full species, so it may be Varanus bengalensis nebulosus. I haven't read the paper elevating it to a full species so I can't comment, but it's definitely the nebulosus variant.