Kings' monitor

Kings' monitor
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Family:Varanidae
Genus:Varanus
Subgenus:Odatria
Species: V. kingorum
Binomial name
Varanus kingorum
Storr, 1980[1]

Kings' monitor or Kings' goanna (Varanus kingorum), is a species of small monitor lizards. It is also known as Kings' rock monitor; it is found in Australia. Specifically, it is endemic to the northwestern part of the Northern Territory, and the northeastern part of Western Australia. It belongs to the subgenus Odatria[2] along with the peacock monitor and the Pilbara monitor. Comparatively little is known about this species.[3]

Etymology

The specific name, kingorum (genetive plural), is in honor of Canadian-born Australian ecologist Richard Dennis King (1942-2002) and Australian geneticist Max King (born 1946).[4]

Habitat

Kings' goanna inhabits rocky outcrops of the Kimberley Region and adjacent areas.[5] It is usually found in areas with rock exfoliations or slopes with open bushland and shrubs, where boulders and outcrops provide its required microhabitat.[6] V. kingorum is also found in grasslands.[7]

Description

Varanus kingorum is one of the smallest species of monitor lizards, reaching a total length of up to 40 cm.[8] It is basically brown in colour with a black reticulum in the juvenile that breaks down with age to form dark flecks and spots.[3]

Behaviour and diet

Kings' monitors retreat into holes, rock fissures, and small crevices when they are approached, being extremely shy.[6]

They appear to feed exclusively on insects, including locusts, termites, and insect eggs.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "ITIS.gov". Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  2. ↑
  3. 1 2 3 Mampam.com Viewed 12 May 2010
  4. ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Varanus kingorum, p. 141).
  5. ↑ JCVI.org (Retrieved 11 May. 2010).
  6. 1 2 Reptilob.de
  7. ↑ Varanus.nl
  8. ↑

Further reading

  • Photo of Varanus kingorum at Varanus.nl
  • JCVI.org (Retrieved 11 May. 2010).
  • Reptileforums.co.uk
  • Bennet, D.F. (2003). Australische Warane. Reptilia (Münster) 8 (5): 18-25
  • Bennet, D.F. (2003). Australian Monitors. Reptilia (GB) (30): 12-19
  • Cogger, H.G. (2000). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 6th ed. Ralph Curtis Publishing, Sanibel Island, 808 pp.
  • De Lisle, H.F. (1996). Natural History of Monitor Lizards. Krieger, Malabar (Florida)
  • Eidenmüller, B. (2003). Haltung und kontinuierliche Vermehrung von Kings Felsenwaran, Varanus kingorum STORR 1980, mit der erstmaligen Nachzucht eines albinotischen Jungtieres. Reptilia (Münster) 8 (5): 36-40
  • Eidenmüller, B. (1999). Haltung und Nachzucht von Kings Felsenwaran, Varanus kingorum STORR 1980. Herpetofauna 21 (121): 19-23
  • Eidenmüller, B. (2001). Between the rocks - Pick up tips on breeding and keeping King’s rock monitors (Varanus kingorum). Reptiles 9 (5): 78-81
  • Eidenmüller, B. 2007. Small monitors in the terrarium. Reptilia (GB) (50): 12-19
  • Horn, H. G. (1977). Notizen zur Systematik, Fundortangaben und Haltung von Varanus (Varanus) karlschmidti. Salamandra 13 (2): 78-88
  • Storr G. M. (1980). The monitor lizards (genus Varanus Merrem, 1820) of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 8(2) 1980: 237-293.


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