Emerald tree monitor

An emerald tree monitor lizard climbing on a branch. The photo has a white background.

An emerald tree monitor lizard climbing on a branch. The photo has a black background.

The emerald tree monitor, or green tree monitor, is a dark jade to lime green lizard found on New Guinea and adjacent islands. This arboreal reptile uses its long claws and prehensile tail (which is twice as long as its body) to grip tree branches while climbing.

Physical Description

Emerald tree monitors are dark jade to lime green with narrow, black crossbands along their bodies and tails. They use their long claws and prehensile tails to grip tree branches when climbing.

Size

This slender lizard reaches a total length of approximately 3 feet (91 centimeters), with its tail about twice the length of its body.

Native Habitat

Green tree monitors are found on the island of New Guinea, as well as several adjacent islands. They live in palm stands and rainforests with about 70 percent relative humidity.

Lifespan

In human care, these lizards live to about the age of 15.

Food/Eating Habits

These lizards eat large, tree-dwelling insects, as well as frogs, geckos, small mammals and birds. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, emerald tree monitors are fed mice, crickets, cockroaches and mealworms.

Social Structure

This species is one of the few that exhibits primitive social behavior. The lizards live in small groups made up of a dominant male, several females and a few other males and juveniles.

Reproduction and Development

Female green tree monitors reportedly use termite mounds as nesting chambers, because they serve as perfect incubators. Termites regulate the mound's temperature, providing ideal conditions. The mounds also offer protection from predators.

A tree monitor's clutch size is typically three to seven eggs, which have an incubation period of 164 to 165 days. Multiple clutches have been occasionally reported with females in human care. The young grow rapidly, increasing their weight by up to 400 percent during the first three months of life, and their length by 150 to 200 percent. Both males and females reach reproductive maturity by age 2, although young males tend to grow faster than females and attain greater overall size.

Conservation Efforts

Emerald tree monitors are protected under Indonesian law and likely occur in protected reserves within their native range. The species appears to be adaptable and can survive on plantations or in modified habitats, as long as some trees and prey items are available.

They have no significant threats in the wild and are present in the pet trade around the world where they appear to be well-managed through captive breeding programs. Wild populations of green tree monitors are not presently exploited by the pet-trade practice, and it is unlikely that the rate of future collection would pose a significant threat to the species.

Help this Species

Be a smart consumer, and check the ingredients label. More than 50 percent of packaged foods, as well as many soaps, cosmetics and household products, contain palm oil. Always choose certified palm oil products that support sustainable production and prevent deforestation.
Choose your pets wisely, and do your research before bringing an animal home. Exotic animals don’t always make great pets. Many require special care and live for a long time. Tropical reptiles and small mammals are often traded internationally and may be victims of the illegal pet trade. Never release animals that have been kept as pets into the wild.
Share the story of this animal with others. Simply raising awareness about this species can contribute to its overall protection.

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