Description:

The glutton monitor (Gulovaranus mellivora) is a medium-sized terrestrial species of monitor lizard native to the African continent, particularly the Congo Savannah. The glutton monitor is light green with small brown spots on the body. It is about 0.9 to 1.3 meters from head to tail, with exceptionally massive males growing to 2 meters long. It weighs about 6.5 to 9 kilograms, with males generally building on the heavier side of that spectrum. Their build is compact for a monitor lizard, but they are conservative compared to other monitors that live in the Novicene. Most of their adaptations are designed for tearing into flesh. For example, they have serrated teeth for tearing into flesh and a powerful jaw for ripping into meat, including the tough hides of animals. They also have sharp and structurally strong claws for digging into rough soil. They generally live about 5 to 10 years in the wild but can live up to 20 years in captivity.

Distribution:

They mainly inhabit the open savannah and open woodland of the Congo Savannah, but they can also live in the floodplains and wetlands next to the major rivers. They can swim, making them adaptable to the changing conditions of the Congo Savannah.

Behavior and Ecology:

General Behavior

Glutton monitors are highly territorial between both their species and other predators. It will tend to charge larger predators with its mouth open. They will also use their tails and claws to defend themselves as well. Although, when humans approach them, they are generally less aggressive and more willing to approach them. This lack of aggression is likely due to humans being unfamiliar with the monitors, and the monitors don't see humans as predators or prey. It could also be from a genuine curiosity, humans being a new species in their environment. During the day, these monitors are sunbathing on rocks, logs, and other objects. Like most lizards, they need sunlight to absorb the necessary calcium. They forage for food and water or rest in their burrows during the rest of the day.

Diet

Glutton monitors are generalist carnivores and scavengers and eat a wide range of prey. They prey on termites, other insects, amphibians, smaller lizards, snakes, rodents, other small mammals, birds, fish, carrion, and various other animals. They are the lizard trash cans. Because of this, they play a role in controlling many animal populations and cleaning up the environment of decaying meat. They are also known to generally prey on small animals rather than going after bigger prey since they have to swallow their prey whole. But, they can tear rip parts off of larger prey, which makes them more capable of eating carrion or bigger prey.

Reproduction

These animals tend to be solitary but will come together during the beginning of the wet season. When mating season happens, males make a loud rumble to attract females. Females will come to these calls, and males will have to impress them by chasing them around a field for about 15 to 20 minutes, which shows that they are physically fit. If the males pass this test,  they will mate and will leave each other. The males will try to reproduce with as many females as possible in their respective areas. The females then try to find a burrow and lay the eggs there. They lay 16 to 30 eggs but can lay up to 40 in their clutches. Once the eggs hatch, the mother monitor will abandon them, and they are left to fend for themselves. Usually, these small monitors will hide in trees, shrubs, tall grasses, or other vegetation to hide from predators.

Evolutionary History

The glutton monitor is likely a descendant of the African members of the Varanus genus. It is unknown which species it descends from, but it likely descends from the Polydaedus subgenus. They are very conservative in morphology, with the only anatomical difference being their posture and behavior.