Borneo's Earless Lizard: A 66-Million-Year Living Fossil

In Borneo’s rainforests, the earless monitor lizard (Lanthanotus borneensis) — a rare 'living fossil' dating back about 66 million years — moves through shadows with no external ears, rough camouflage scales, and a prehensile tail. It is elusive and nocturnal, feeding on earthworms, small crabs, and fish, and scientists warn that habitat destruction and illegal wildlife trade threaten its survival as the sole living member of its family.