is a kaiju

Kaiju

is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....

 that first appeared in Varan the Unbelievable

Varan the Unbelievable

Varan the Unbelievable, released in Japan as , is a 1958 Kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya , and their last black-and-white monster film. The title character Varan is one of Toho Studios' least-famed creations. Although shown in Japanese-language theaters in the USA, the film...

(1958). Physically, Varan resembles a giant reptile

Reptile

Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...

 with skin membranes between his arms and legs, allowing him to glide much like a flying dragon or flying squirrel

Flying squirrel

Flying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of 44 species of squirrels .- Description :...

; he also has a horned head.
In all of his film appearances, Varan does not have any special abilities. He can glide at speeds of Mach 1.5, and has a row of spines along his body which may afford protection.