Varanus priscus
(almost always known as "Megalania", although this
is not the correct scientific name - see below)
was a giant monitor lizard that
lived in Australia,
between about 1.6 million and 40,000 years ago. It may well have been encountered
by early aboriginal people when they first arrived in
Australia.
No complete
fossil skeletons of
Megalania have yet been found, so there is still considerable debate about the animal's size.
Some estimates say the largest individuals could have been 23 feet (7 meters) long,
whereas others put an upper limit of around 15 feet (4.5 meters).
In any case, Megalania is the largest terrestrial lizard known,
and probably fed on animals such
Diprotodon.
The name "Megalania" was chosen by
Sir Richard Owen
in 1859, he called the species "Megalania prisca" which means
"ancient great roamer". However today, "Megalania" is considered
to be a synonym for "Varanus" (the genus containing monitor lizards),
and because "Varanus" was coined first, this name takes priority.
Additionally, since "Varanus" is masculine, whereas "Megalania"
is femine, the word "prisca" needs to change to "priscus", and thus
the correct name of the species is "Varanus priscus".
Although Megalania is generally considered to be extinct,
some cryptozoologists (people who search for rumored animals
whose existence is uncertain), claim that it is possible that
there might be a small surviving population in the wilderness
areas of New Guinea or
Australia.
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