West Africa Nile monitor
West Africa Nile monitor | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Varanidae |
Genus: | Varanus |
Subgenus: | Polydaedalus |
Species: | V. stellatus |
Binomial name | |
Varanus stellatus | |
The West Africa Nile monitor (Varanus stellatus) is a cryptic species of Polydaedalus monitor lizard from West Africa. It includes the west African form of what was previously considered to be Varanus ornatus. Genetically, Varanus stellatus is a very distinct species, with over 8% uncorrected sequence divergence from either of the V. niloticus races.[1] [2] Physical characteristics that distinguish Varanus stellatus from Varanus niloticus are not known.
References
- ↑ Dowell S.A, D.M. Portik, V. de Buffrenil, I. Ineich, E. Greenbaum, S.O. Kolokotronis, and E.R. Hekkala. (2015). Molecular data from contemporary and historical collections reveal a complex story of cryptic diversification in the Varanus (Polydaedalus) niloticus Species Group. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.10.004
- ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/04/the-past-and-future-of-floridas-dragon-problem/478905/
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