Kimberley rock monitor

The Kimberley rock monitor (Varanus glauerti) is a medium-sized species of monitor lizard[4] in the family Varanidae. The species is native to Northern Australia. Also known commonly as Glauert's monitor and the Kakadu sand goanna,[5] it belongs to the subgenus Odatria.[6]

Kimberley rock monitor
Varanus glauerti male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: Odatria
Species:
V. glauerti
Binomial name
Varanus glauerti
Synonyms[3]
  • Varanus (Odatria) timorensis glauerti
    Mertens, 1957
  • Varanus (Odatria) glauerti
    — Mertens, 1958
  • Varanus glauerti
    — Cogger, 1983

Etymology

The specific name, glauerti, is in honor of English-born Australian herpetologist Ludwig Glauert.[5]

Geographic range

V. glauerti is found in the extreme northwestern part of the Australian state of Western Australia, and in the northern tip of Northern Territory.[1]

Description

V. glauerti grows up to 80 cm (31 in) long, and three-quarters of its length is the long tail.

Habitat and behaviour

V. glauerti lives almost exclusively on rocky cliff faces, but is also found in humid forests.[1] It is rupicolous, and prefers humid conditions.[1][4]

Diet

V. glauerti preys upon insects such as caterpillars, cockroaches, and orthopterans, and also upon small lizards such as geckos and their eggs.[1]

Reproduction

V. glauerti is oviparous,[1] and sometimes parthenogenetic.[3]

References
  1. Shea, G. (2018). "Varanus glauerti ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T178028A83777814. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T178028A83777814.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Varanus glauerti ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). www.itis.gov
  3. Species Varanus glauerti at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  4. "Varanus glauerti " at Monitor-lizards.net Archived 2010-02-23 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp.
    ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Varanus glauerti, p. 101).
  6. Kingsnake.com

Further reading
  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
  • Hörenberg, Thomas (2013). "Parthenogenese bei Varanus glauerti". Draco 13 (53): 29–30. (in German).
  • Mertens R (1957). "Two new goannas from Australia". Western Australian Naturalist 5: 183–185. (Varanus timorensis glauerti, new subspecies).
  • Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.
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