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

  1. 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
  2. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/04/the-past-and-future-of-floridas-dragon-problem/478905/


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