国内巨蜥的研究现状

由于人类的乱捕滥猎和巨蜥栖息地的改变，造成巨蜥数量急剧减少。一般认为国内存在2种巨蜥，即Varanus salvator和Varanus bengalensis bengalensis，主要分布于云南、广西、海南和广东四省。巨蜥的生境多位于热带或亚热带的河流附近或沿海河口一带。穴居，且具有爬树和游泳能力。其食物十分广泛，包括小型哺乳类（如啮齿类）、鸟类、两栖爬行类（蛇、蜥蜴、小龟、蛙）、鱼和一些无脊椎动物（蟹、虾、昆虫）。其捕食方式为公开追击方式（open-pursuit）。春季和夏季是巨蜥发情交配和产卵的季节。人工条件下，巨蜥卵的孵化时间约为7个月左右。当前巨蜥保护工作的首要任务，是迅速查明国内巨蜥的种类、分布、野外种群数量及其致危因子等信息，这将是制定有效的巨蜥保护策略的基础。

Research Status of Water Monitor in China

Number of the wild water monitor decreased rapidly due to reckless hunting and changes in habitats.It was generally thought that,There are two species of water monitors:Varanus salvator and Varanus bengalensis bengalensis distributed,mainly in Guangxi,Hainan and Guangdong provinces in china.Their habitats are located along rivers and estuaries of sea coasts in tropical and subtropical zones,living in burrows,being able to climb trees and swim.Wild monitors are carnivorous,feeding on a wide range of animals,including small mammals(rodents),birds,reptiles,amphibians(snakes, lizards,small tortoises and frogs),fishes and invertebrates(crabs, lobsters and big beetles),catching their prey by open-pursuit.They reproduce in spring and summer.The artificial incubation of their eggs required about 7 months.The present aim of their conservation is to collect information on the species composition of water monitors in China,their distribution,population number and factor of threatening,which will be the basis for their effective protection.