Prehensility in the tails of Varanids (Monitor Lizards)

[infernalis]

As noted and photographed in the behaviors of Littlefoot & Cera, They have both displayed use of their tails in both balance and grasping to assist in climbing.

The use of the tail for grasping and balance is nothing new, and quite common in all arboreal species, and some terrestrial species, But I have not found anything implicating that this is a common practice in the stoutly built African species such as V. exanthematicus.

In layman's terms, has anyone else who keeps captive Savannah monitors witnessed the use of their tails for climbing down from elevated locations?

As we all know, these lizards posses very strong tails, yet very little is mentioned of the use of this tail in daily activity aside from a good slap when angered.

Evidence is building that Savannah Monitors are actually quite good at climbing, witnessed both in captivity and in the wild, the use of the tail to assist in this activity is of great interest to me.

So, share your observations, have you seen your lizards use their tails as a means of grasping or balancing while moving about?

[SpOoKy]

I actually notice it quite often Wayne. Usually while trying to get down from the basking stacks, mine will start to crawl off nose first, then front legs, then back legs and he/she will use their tail to balance the hanging body while he turns around to slide quickly into the borrow underneath.
It usually only happens when I run in the room quick while basking. Another time he will climb down at his own pack, usually do a quick scout of the enclosure then go into the burrow. It is almost like when he is trying a quick get away he uses every limb possible to get safe and secure again. Of course he/she will use the tail for tripoding as well.
I will have to try and get one of my camera's working so I can get a video of it.

[dinosaurdammit]

When I had my nile he would actually use his tail to dangle down and catch crickets n such, pajaaamas does the same. Ive seen baby savs do it more than adult savs though and I am not sure if niles continue to have such ability when they are larger. Pajaaamas uses his tail to wedge into things to hold on rather than curl it though he does from time to time. It would be interesting to see how arboreal savs can be

[jarich]

Im not sure I would refer to it as prehensile in Bosc's. With arboreal species you see the definite tendency towards a curling of the tail that facilitates that actual grasping, like in prasinus or salvadorii. These species seem to have thinner tails also, so that the tail can curve to the side. The thick, stout, straight tail of exanthematicus doesnt seem so much a specific adaptation like that but rather more of a general adaptation, like a rudder of sorts.

Mine has a tendency to just sort of guide himself with it; as he slides off the branches he doesnt so much grab with it as he does guide the direction he falls. They dont seem particularly graceful on decent, but maybe thats just mine.

[infernalis]

I have seen Littlefoot in particular, wrap the end of his tail onto the edge of the enclosure front door to descend to the floor like a grappling hook.

I have never seen either of them do a full wraparound, since that would be virtually impossible to do given the rapid taper and stout construction of the tail.

In one of my tripod photos, He clearly latches onto a rock for balance.

Ive seen baby savs do it more than adult savs though

I often wonder about this, Most captive observations made to date have been overweight animals that no longer display any behaviors aside from waiting to eat.

[jarich]

I would guess that for all species the abilities of the tail would be lessened in captivity also. Muscle tone is less in captives pretty much across the board on reptiles, so I think it would be safe to assume its true in this case too.

[dinosaurdammit]

I have seen Littlefoot in particular, wrap the end of his tail onto the edge of the enclosure front door to descend to the floor like a grappling hook.

I have never seen either of them do a full wraparound, since that would be virtually impossible to do given the rapid taper and stout construction of the tail.

In one of my tripod photos, He clearly latches onto a rock for balance.



I often wonder about this, Most captive observations made to date have been overweight animals that no longer display any behaviors aside from waiting to eat.


i think its something to think about, i would guess with captive savs, that at least 80% are overweight or not meeting wild brethren. This might dampen the ability to do the natural things they would normally accomplish. I think for fat monitors it would be impossible. Unmuscled tails, with huge sagging guts. I feel this would be the same as a heavily obese and unfit person trying to do a pull up on the monkey bars. It just wont happen. It would be lucky that they could even hold on to the bars for any length of time, same with a monitors tail. A fit monitor can stand and support all their weight ON their tail alone without propping on anything, but ive never seen a fat monitor even tripod.

[infernalis]

in an attempt to scale a smooth wall, I photographed Littlefoot supporting his entire body by his tail.

[murrindindi]

Hi Wayne, most species that have a relatively long tail would probably be able to use it the way you describe your monitors doing, simply because the tail is so muscular and like the body, flexible.
In which case, you will hopefully find some more stout branches for them very, very soon (they love showing their abilities off)! :yes:

[murrindindi]

in an attempt to scale a smooth wall, I photographed Littlefoot supporting his entire body by his tail.


If you watch closely you might see how they actually press the appendage into the object they`re climbing, adding more support.

[murrindindi]

When I had my nile he would actually use his tail to dangle down and catch crickets n such, pajaaamas does the same. Ive seen baby savs do it more than adult savs though and I am not sure if niles continue to have such ability when they are larger. Pajaaamas uses his tail to wedge into things to hold on rather than curl it though he does from time to time. It would be interesting to see how arboreal savs can be


Hi, yes even in adulthood their tails are still used that way to great effect my (late) Ornate monitor weighed just over 20kl (50lbs), but would use the tail to help him climb up/down.

[alessia55]

in an attempt to scale a smooth wall, I photographed Littlefoot supporting his entire body by his tail.
You should share this photo with us. It would be so appropriate in this thread!

[infernalis]

Taken from the littlefoot & Cera thread. (Excuse me that I fogot his left rear foot was used to balance on the edge of the enclosure)



The most impressive part of this photo, he is attempting to climb a pane of tempered glass I have for building another enclosure, so he is supporting almost all of his weight with his tail! (The albino garter snake takes great interest in what is going on.)

http://www.savannahmonitor.net/floor/f2.jpg

[infernalis]

The problem with having so many pictures of my monitors, I am trying to find some specific photos, and they are all over the place, making it a real challenge to find certain ones.

[jarich]

GoPro! Do it in style...

[Robyn@SYR]

Nice pic, good thread : )

[bodiddleyitis]

Savannah monitors use their tails as a drag/anchor when descending trees, which means that although they climb trees silently they make a lot of noise on the way down. They don't like to jump and I've only seen them do it when they are severely provoked.

[infernalis]

Looking through my vast sea of pictures, found this one where the tail is hooked under a rock for balance..

Now to search the mass of unpublished pictures, I know I have one where Littlefoot hooks onto the front sill of his enclosure to lower himself.

http://www.varanid.us/2013/trypod.jpg

Using the tail to grasp tree..

http://www.varanid.us/LF/downtree.jpg

http://www.varanid.us/LF/view.jpg

[ilovemypets1988]

http://www.varanid.us/2013/trypod.jpg

what comes to mind when i see this pic is a meerkat.

but has anyone every thought to try taking there monitor outside and perching them on a branch that would just be high enough for him/her to hang from (the same height as the lizard is long) and see how they get themselves down, or even the fact that, as stated before, a captive animal is not an animal with fully natural behaviour, simply because they dont need to use all of there natural behaviours and in 1 sence, they become "lazy" because everything is done for them:

food is readily supplied;
they learn that they are safe in there environment;
they dont need to scout for warm spots as there always a basking area in there enclosures;
etc

maybe its this reason why younger monitors are more prone to using there tails as that is exactly what they would do in the wild as for the first year or so of there lives, they would react more to there basic instinct than an adult would.

[infernalis]

what comes to mind when i see this pic is a meerkat..

Nah, here is a meerkat pose for you...

http://www.varanid.us/LF/meerkat.jpg

[Saurian]

I have noticed my Sav do this several times. Wish I had some pics. When I pick him up he uses his tail and wraps it around my arm and when I go to put him back in his enclosure he actually wraps it around my arm. I can feel it almost tighten a bit around my arm and have to remove it myself to let him go.

[BarelyBreathing]

What? Really? Then I guess I'll need to add new pictures. :)

[bodiddleyitis]

What? Really? Then I guess I'll need to add new pictures. :)
Could you also try to find the papers you referred to in a discussion about the diet of savannah monitors last year, and details of the facility that breeds savannah monitors on a diet which contains no vertebrates? Apologies if I've missed either of these through lack of attention.

[infernalis]

so much for tail usage.....

[murrindindi]

so much for tail usage.....

Isn`t it always the way! (Still an interesting development, though)... :D
Try showing a few more photos/videos of your two using that appendage. No point in me putting any up when it`s specifically about V. exanthematicus...

[infernalis]

Isn`t it always the way! (Still an interesting development, though)... :D
Try showing a few more photos/videos of your two using that appendage. No point in me putting any up when it`s specifically about V. exanthematicus...

I changed the title... post away.

[monitorlizard]

I currently only have a Blue Tongue Skink and a Leopard Gecko, so no Varanids yet. Both of these animals though are definitely terrestrial and no where near arboreal. But, I have noticed with both that when I hold them off the ground while putting them bad into their cages, sometimes they will curl their tails around my arm(or finger for the Gecko lol) and it can be a little bit difficult at times to remove the tail off of me. So I would think that there is some degree of prehensility in almost all lizards.

[BarelyBreathing]

I've noticed my leopard geckos will also do this.

[murrindindi]

Blue tongue skinks are actually quite good climbers, I don`t think most people are aware just how good, considering the tiny legs.
(Though strictly speaking they`re not Varanids).... :no: :)

[BarelyBreathing]

Blue tongue skinks are actually quite good climbers, I don`t think most people are aware just how good, considering the tiny legs.
(Though strictly speaking they`re not Varanids).... :no: :)

Tell that to Molly, who once got stuck in a shallow box.

I realize she isn't the norm, though.

[murrindindi]

My V. s. macromaculatus showing his climbing/balancing abilities, he would still be able to do that now at just under 6 feet ToL, as far as hanging there like that...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8487551604_f905819e36.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62077372@N05/8487551604/)
003 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62077372/8487551604/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8479196799_83f9d585ce.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62077372@N05/8479196799/)
[url=http://

[monitorlizard]

Murrindindi, that is arguably either the first or second most healthy looking Water Monitor I have ever seen!
Could you make a thread describing how you take care of what I assume to be a her? Please include as many pictures as you please!

[murrindindi]

Murrindindi, that is arguably either the first or second most healthy looking Water Monitor I have ever seen!
Could you make a thread describing how you take care of what I assume to be a her? Please include as many pictures as you please!

Thanks! When I get a little time I`ll show his progress so far, he`s just over 2.5 years old, his name is "Palu".... (I`m living in the U.K at this time and it`s getting quite late over here).

[fldaddy2]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie but have really enjoyed the discussions on varanid intelligence and this one. We have a sub-adult Sav, Zilla. He uses his tail mostly to tripod, which he does quite often and for various reasons. He's even been caught tripoding in the middle of our living room for no apparent reason to us. I'm sure he had HIS reasons. But the does use it quite frequently to hold on to our arms when we are trying to put him back in his cage or when he is climbing off of things. There have been times he has wrapped his tail around my arm and completely let go with all four feet and hung like a bat for several seconds. It's almost is if he enjoys doing this. I do rest my hand on his tail when he is performing this trick just in case he were to slip, I could catch him. But he has held on so tightly he has left indentations in my arm while doing this. Just our experience with their prehensility in his tail.

[infernalis]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie but have really enjoyed the discussions on varanid intelligence and this one. We have a sub-adult Sav, Zilla. He uses his tail mostly to tripod, which he does quite often and for various reasons. He's even been caught tripoding in the middle of our living room for no apparent reason to us. I'm sure he had HIS reasons. But the does use it quite frequently to hold on to our arms when we are trying to put him back in his cage or when he is climbing off of things. There have been times he has wrapped his tail around my arm and completely let go with all four feet and hung like a bat for several seconds. It's almost is if he enjoys doing this. I do rest my hand on his tail when he is performing this trick just in case he were to slip, I could catch him. But he has held on so tightly he has left indentations in my arm while doing this. Just our experience with their prehensility in his tail.

I would love to see video or pictures of this... (please):cool:

[fldaddy2]

I'm sure wifey has a pic somewhere. I'll see if she can come up with it. We'll work on a video and I'll TRY to figure out how to upload it to here.

[infernalis]

I'm sure wifey has a pic somewhere. I'll see if she can come up with it. We'll work on a video and I'll TRY to figure out how to upload it to here.

Put it on youtube first, then post the youtube here.

[infernalis]

http://www.varanid.us/2013/tailhook.jpg