aranus mabitang

Status: Endangered. Highly dependant on forest ecosystems, and their habitat is fragmented and disappearing and they are also threatened by hunting

In the Philippine, the Bagobo tell a story of how monitor-lizard and chameleon (in the indo-Malaya this would be the common garden lizard, Calotes versicolor) got their respective markings. The two reptiles one day decided they would scratch patterns onto one anothers backs. Monitor-lizard went first, scratching an elaborate, carefully even pattern on chameleon’s back. When it came time for chameleon to do the scratching, the two were started by the sound of a hunter and dog. Fearfully, chameleon continued some erratic scratching, but at last lost his nerve, and with his final scrabbling cut short, he turned tail and ran. This is why chameleon has a beautiful design on his back, while monitor lizard’s is wrinkled and erratic looking.

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Size: 6 x 6 inches
Medium: Ink
©2023, Stephanie Law
Original: Sold