Australian tree monitor

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Australian tree monitor
Systematics
without rank: Toxicofera
without rank: Sneaky (Anguimorpha)
Family : Varanidae
Genre : Monitor lizards ( varanus )
Subgenus : Euprepiosaurus
Type : Australian tree monitor
Scientific name
Varanus keithhornei
Wells & Wellington , 1985

The Australian tree monitor ( Varanus keithhornei ) is a type of monitor lizards , the endemic in Northeast Australia is. It is included in the subgenus Euprepiosaurus , where it is the only species of the V. prasinus group on mainland Australia . The first description of this kind was carried out by Wells & Wellington., 1985

Physique, appearance

The Australian tree monitor can reach a total body length of up to 75 cm when fully grown. The habitus of the Australian tree monitor is very similar to the other representatives of the Prasinus group. However, there are differences in the scale characteristics of the other species. This external characteristic ensured the species status of Varanus keithhornei. The basic color of the scales on the upper side is matt black. The scales of the head are relatively large and smooth. Some scutum oculare are enlarged, but hardly differ from the interocularia . The upward and outward nostril is closer to the tip of the snout than to the eye . Around the middle of the body there are 75-90 rows of scales. The tail is compressed a little laterally without a visible keel . The tail scales, which are arranged in regular rings, have a slight keel.

distribution

The distribution of the Australian tree monitor is limited to a small area in the Iron Range and the McIlwraith Range on the Cape York Peninsula in the far north of Queensland . IRWIN 1994 observed 4 animals in the Iron Range area . 3 of these animals were caught while they were probably looking for food in the leaves on the ground. The fourth animal was in a tree at a height of 5 meters.

Systematics

The first evidence of this type was made by CZECHURA (1980). But only SPRACKLAND (1991b) found a connection to the Prasinus group in a taxonomic revision of the species. The Australian tree monitor is thus the first and so far only known representative of the Prasinus group, which is endemic to mainland Australia. However, Sprackland had overlooked that WELLS & WELLINGTON (1985) had already given this species the scientific name V. keithhornei. The name Varanus teriae introduced by SPRACKLAND is therefore considered a synonym for V. keithhornei. In the English language, Varanus keithhornei is known under the names canopy goanna , blue-nosed goanna and Nesbit River monitor .

literature

  • IRWIN, S. (1996): an innovative strategy for the detection of egg deposition in captive varanid reptiles.- Herpetofauna, Sydney, 26 (1): 31-32.
  • SPRACKLAND, R. (1991): Taxonomic review of the Varanus prasinus group with description of two new species.- Mem Qld. Mus., 30 (3): 561-576.
  • IRWIN, S. (1994): Notes on Behavior and Diet of Varanus teriae SPRACKLAND, 1991.-Mem. Qld. Mus., 35 (1): 128.
  • BÖHME, W. (2003): Checklist of the living Monitor Lizards of the world (Family Varanidae) .- Zoologische Verhandelingen, Leiden, 44 pp.
  • KIRSCHNER, A., T. MÜLLER & H. SEUFER (1996): Faszination Warane.- Kirschner & Seufer Verlag, Keltern-Weiler, 254 pp.
  • CZECHURA, GV (1980): The Emerald Monitor Varanus prasinus (SCHLEGEL): An addition to the Australian mainland herpetofauna.- Mem. Qld. Mus., Brisbane, 20 (1): 103-109.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ziegler, T .; A. Schmitz, A. Koch & W. Böhme (2007): A review of the subgenus Euprepiosaurus of Varanus (Squamata: Varanidae): Morphological and molecular phylogeny, distribution and zoogeography, with an identification key for the members of the V. indicus and the V. prasinus species groups. Zootaxa 1472, pp. 1-28
  2. ↑ Australian tree monitor on itis.gov
  3. ↑ (CZECHURA 1980, GREENE 1986, SPRACKLAND 1991b)
  4. ↑ IRWIN 1994 caught Varanus keithhornei on australiazoo.com.au/
  5. ↑ Australian tree monitor on mampam.com
  6. ↑ CommonNames of Varanus keithhornei in The Reptile Database