Varanus Bitatawa

Varanus Bitatawa

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Varanus bitatawa, known by the common name Northern Sierra Madre Forest monitor lizard, is a large arboreal frugivorous lizard of the genus Varanus.

Physical Description:
The forest monitor lizard can grow to more than 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length but weighs only about 10 kilograms (22 lb). It is brightly colored with stripes of gold flecks. Its scaly body and legs are a blue-black mottled with pale yellow-green dots, and its tail is marked in alternating segments of black and green.

Behavior:
One of only three frugivorous monitor lizards in the world, the forest monitor prefers to eat the fruit of Pandanus trees.

Taxonomy and Distribution:
V. bitatawa is closely related to the Komodo dragon of Indonesia. It was confirmed as a new species in April 2010 by biologists from the University of Kansas. DNA analysis has revealed a deep genetic divergence between this species and its closest relative, Gray's monitor (Varanus olivaceus), which is also a fruit-eater but lives on the southern end of Luzon, rather than the northern end where the forest monitor lizard lives. These findings were published in Biology Letters, a journal of the Royal Society. The lizard's known range is currently limited to the Sierra Madre Forest, in the northeastern coast of the island of Luzon, Philippines.

I have been searching around, and have yet to find one for sale. Are these beautiful monitors not for sale? I have had a few species of Monitors growing up, but have no type of pets now. After 9 months of trying to decide what monitor to get and care for, I have chosen the Varanus bitatawa. Would anyone know where they are sold at, or if they are even for sale?