The Papua monitor, Varanus salvaorii (also known as Salvadori's monitor, Crocodile monitor, or Artelia) is a little-studied monitor lizard that lives on the island of New Guinea. It is found in mangrove swamp and coastal rain forest in the south east of the island. It is rumored that the creature can grow to a length of 15 feet (4.75 metres), which would make it the longest lizard in the world, but to date the longest recorded specimen is only 8 feet (2.44 metres). However, much of this length is made up of the tail, which accounts for more than 60% of the animal's length. Females reach sexual maturity at about 5 ft (1.5 meters). At birth it is already 18 inches (45 cm) long.