As their common name suggests, water monitors are a semi-aquatic lineage, prefering lowland to mid-elevation riparian habitats.
Varanus cumingi is a member of the sub-genus Soterosaurus (Ziegler and Bӧhme, 1997), which is comprised of the V. salvator Species Complex and V. rudicollis. This taxa was elevated to species status by Koch et al. (2007). Varanus cumingi has a near black dorsal ground color, overlain with the greatest proportion of yellow-gold markings of any Philippine water monitor, often present as a variable transverse bands of oscelli and irregular blotches; head is often nearly entirely yellow; dark ground color of tail overlain with longitudinally elongated yellowish oscelli. Ventral coloration is mostly uniform yellow to creamy white, with faint dark crossbands which become more prominent laterally. Tail yellow to creamy white, ovelain with faint dark oscelli.
Varanus cumingi is fairly common throughout its range, despite being threatened by collection for skin and pet trades, as well as for bush meat.
Varanus cumingi is designated as a CITES Appendix II species,. This taxon is not currently threatened by extinction, but may become so unless trade or other factors are closely monitored.
Varanus cumingi is a relatively small member of the V. salvator Species Complex, cahracterized by a high proportion of yellow-gold dorsal coloration, present in the form of variable blotches and transverse bands; head with large amount of gold coloration, increasing anteriorly. Ventrally, this species is characterized by the presence of dark oscelli running longitudinally along the tail.
Varanus cumingi can be distinguished from all non-Soterosaur varanines by features of its reproductive morphology (Ziegler and Bӧme, 1997). This species can be distinguished from all other members of the V. salvator Species Complex and V. rudicollisby: (1) high proportion of yellow-gold dorsal coloration; (2) enlarged occipital scales bordering the pineal organ; (3) relatively large dorsal scales; (4) low numbers of scales around the tail, at insertion and one third distance from base; (5) caudal ventral coloration with dark oscelli; (6) black stripe between ocular and tympanum; (7) gular region generally yellow; lacking distinguishing dark coloration; and (8) 8–15 transverse ventral trunk bands (Koch et al., 2007).
Varanus cumingi has been documented throughout the Mindanao Faunal Region, Philippines, including the islands of Basilan, Bohol, Leyte, Mindanao, and Samar.
As with many species of monitor lizards, Varanus cumingi is an opportunistic feeder, and will seek out various sources of carion, as well as consuming small reptiles, amphibians, rodents, fish, and both terrestrial and aquatic arthropods.
The specific epithet was likely chosen in recognition of H. Cuming, a gentelman naturalist explorer responsible for many of the herpetological collections sent back to Europe from Southeast Asia during the mid-1800s.
Mindanao Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex
Varanus cumingi, like all water monitors, is often found in disturbed to primary growth riparian habitats in low- to mid-elevations.
Varanus cumingi most closely resembles other Philippine members of the V. salvator Species Complex, but is readily distinguished by an overall lighter appearance, owing to the highest proportion of yellow-gold dorsal coloring of any species of water monitor.
Varanus cumingi, like all water monitors, is rather successful in moderately disturbed habitat, so long as some in-tact riparian habitat remains and populations are not overly stressed by harvest.
The most severe threats to Varanus cumingi are likely from unsustainable harvest (for trade and bush meat) and habitat loss.
The yellow-headed water monitor (Varanus cumingi), also commonly known as Cuming's water monitor, the Mindanao water monitor, and the Philippine water monitor, is a large species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to the Philippines. It thrives in mangrove, forest and water margins in tropical refuges, where it feeds on birds, fishes, mammals, and carrion.
V. cumingi was previously recognized as a subspecies of the water monitor (Varanus salvator), but since 2007 is acknowledged as a species in its own right.[3][4]
The specific name, cumingi, is in honor of English conchologist and botanist Hugh Cuming.[5]
V. cumingi is found in the southern Philippines, where it is distributed on Mindanao and a few small nearby islands.[2]
V. cumingi has the highest degree of yellow coloration among all the endemic water monitors in the Philippines. The V. cumingi is a large lizard and medium-sized monitor lizard. The largest specimens its species can reaching a length of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) with a snout-vent length of 60 cm (24 in) and 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) in a mass.[6][7]
The preferred natural habitats of V. cumingi are mangroves and moist forest, but it is also abundant in artificial habitats such as fish ponds and cultivated lands.[1]
The diet of V. cumingi is composed of rodents, birds, fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, and other invertebrates, including eggs and carrion.[8]
Two subspecies were formerly recognized: V. c. cumingi occurring on Mindanao and offshore islands and V. c. samarensis on the islands of Bohol, Leyte and Samar. However, the latter has since been elevated to full species status as Varanus samarensis.[9]
The yellow-headed water monitor (Varanus cumingi), also commonly known as Cuming's water monitor, the Mindanao water monitor, and the Philippine water monitor, is a large species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to the Philippines. It thrives in mangrove, forest and water margins in tropical refuges, where it feeds on birds, fishes, mammals, and carrion.
