Editing Monitor lizard (section)

=== Metabolism ===
Monitor lizards maintain large territories and employ active-pursuit hunting techniques that are reminiscent of similar-sized mammals.<ref name="kinggreenknight1999">King, D., Green, B., Knight, F. (1999). ''Monitors: The Biology of Varanid Lizards.'' Florida. Krieger Publishing Company.</ref> The highly active nature of monitor lizards has led to numerous studies on the metabolic capacities of these lizards. The general consensus is that monitor lizards have the highest standard metabolic rates of all [[Extant taxon|extant]] reptiles.<ref name="piankavitt2003">Pianka, E.R., Vitt, L.J. (2003). ''Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity.'' California. University of California Press.</ref>

Monitor lizards have a high aerobic scope<ref name=piankavitt2003 /><ref name=wood1978>{{cite journal|vauthors=Wood SC, Johansen K, Glass ML, ((Maloiy GMO)) |title= Aerobic Metabolism of the Lizard ''Varanus exanthematicus'': Effects of Activity, Temperature, and Size|journal= Journal of Comparative Physiology B|volume= 127|issue= 4|pages= 331–336|doi=10.1007/BF00738417|year= 1978|s2cid= 19320799}}</ref> that is afforded, in part, by their heart anatomy. Whereas most reptiles are considered to have three-chambered hearts, the hearts of monitor lizards – as with those of [[Boidae|boas]] and [[Pythonidae|pythons]] – have a well developed [[Ventricle (heart)|ventricular]] septum that completely separates the [[Lung|pulmonary]] and [[Systemic circulation|systemic]] sides of the circulatory system during [[systole]].<ref name=wang2003>{{cite journal|vauthors=Wang T, Altimiras J, Klein W, Axelsson M |title= Ventricular Haemodynamics in ''Python molurus'': Separation of Pulmonary and Systemic Pressures|journal= The Journal of Experimental Biology|volume= 206|issue= Pt 23|pages= 4241–5|pmid=14581594|year= 2003|doi=10.1242/jeb.00681 |doi-access= free|bibcode= 2003JExpB.206.4241W}}</ref> This allows monitor lizards to create mammalian-equivalent pressure differentials between the pulmonary and systemic circuits,<ref name=wang2003 /> which in turn ensure that oxygenated blood is quickly distributed to the body without also flooding the lungs with high-pressure blood.