Black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor

The black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor (Varanus baritji), also called black-spotted spiny-tailed monitor and yellow-throated monitor, is a monitor lizard native to Australia's tropical Northern Territory. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List as it is considered common and not threatened.[1]

Black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: Odatria
Species:
V. baritji
Binomial name
Varanus baritji
King & Horner, 1987

It was first described in 1987.[2]

It is also known as White's dwarf goanna.[3]

The species name of this lizard, baritj, is an Australian aboriginal word for white.

Description

This monitor lizard's tail is spiny. It is similar to Varanus acanthurus in appearance, but differs in colour patterns. For example, V. baritji has a bright-yellow underside, but lacks the light and dark dorsal neck stripes and the light ocellated markings on its back for which V. acanthurus is known. The black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor can reach up to 72 cm in length.[3]

References
  1. Gillespie, G.; Greenlees, M.; Woinarski, J.; Vanderduys, E. (2018). "Varanus baritji". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T83777354A101752290. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T178416A7542350.en.{{cite iucn}}: error: |doi= / |page= mismatch (help)
  2. King, M, and Horner, P. (1987). "A new species of monitor (Reptilia: Platynota) from Northern Australia and a note on the status of Varanus acanthurus insulanicus Mertens". Beagle: The Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory. 4: 73−79.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. Mampam.com

Further reading
  • Bennet, D.F. 2003. Australische Warane. Reptilia (Münster) 8 (5): 18-25
  • Eidenmüller, B. 2007. Small monitors in the terrarium. Reptilia (GB) (50): 12-19
  • Eidenmüller, B. 2007. Kleinwarane im Terrarium. Reptilia (Münster) 12 (1): 16-23
  • D. Bennett. (1995). A Little Book of Monitor Lizards. Viper Press: London.


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