Megalania prisca

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Megalania prisca | status = Template:StatusPrehistoric | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Reptilia | ordo = Squamata | subordo = Sauria | familia = Varanidae | genus = Megalania | species = M. prisca | binomial = Megalania prisca | binomial_authority = (Richard Owen, 1860) }}

Megalania prisca is an extinct giant monitor lizard. It was one of the megafauna that roamed southern Australia, and appears to have become extinct around 40,000 years ago. The name Megalania prisca means “ancient giant butcher”. The first aboriginal settlers of Australia may have encountered living Megalania.

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Size of the Megalania

Megalania was a giant lizard, reaching lengths of 5 to 6 metres. Megalania was the largest lizard that ever lived, and was a fearsome predator, with heavily built limbs and body and a solid skull full of short blade-teeth. Due to its size and similarities to the Komodo Dragon, a relationship between the two species has been suggested. In reality however Megalania's closest relative is the perentie, Australia's largest extant lizard.

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Live Megalania

There have been reports and rumors of living Megalania in Australia, and occasionally New Guinea, as recently as the 1970s. Australian cryptozoologist Rex Gilroy has stated that Megalania is still alive today, and it is only a matter of time until one comes in. Aside from stories, the only evidence that Megalania might still be alive today is a cast of a possible Megalania footprint that Gilroy made in 1979. An outsized monitor lizard had walked across a plowed field. However, there have been no serious studies taken to determine whether the Megalania is alive today, and it is still considered to be extinct.

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