Emerald tree monitor

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Emerald tree monitor[1]

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: Hapturosaurus
Species:
V. prasinus
Binomial name
Varanus prasinus
Schlegel, 1839
Map showing the distribution of Varanus prasinus, found throughout Papua New Guinea and several islands in the Torres Strait.
Distribution of the emerald tree monitor, shown in red.

The emerald tree monitor (Varanus prasinus) or green tree monitor, is a small to medium-sized

arboreal monitor lizard. It is known for its unusual coloration, which consists of shades from green to turquoise, topped with dark, transverse dorsal banding. This coloration helps camouflage it in its arboreal habitat.[3] Its color also makes the emerald tree monitor highly prized in both the pet trade and zoos alike.[4]

Names

It is known as wbl km in the Kalam language of Papua New Guinea.[5]

Taxonomy

Varanus prasinus was first described as Monitor viridis by

Arabic word waral (ورل), which translates to English as "monitor".[7] Its specific name, prasinus, is Latin for the color green
.

Varanus prasinus is a member of the subgenus Euprepiosaurus. It is closely related to several other

Evolutionary history

The family

Wallace's line may be partially responsible for the radiation of the V. prasinus group in the Australo-Papuan region.[15]

Distribution

Emerald tree monitors and their close relatives can be found on the island of New Guinea (split between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) as well as several adjacent islands,[16] and the northern Torres Strait Islands.[17] The green tree monitor is reported to thrive in lowland environments, including tropical evergreen forests, palm swamps and cocoa plantations.[17]

Description

Emerald tree monitors at the Bristol Zoo

The emerald tree monitor is about 75–100 cm (30–39 in) long with a slender body that helps it support itself on narrow branches. It uses its

prehensile tail and long claws to grip branches.[3][18][19] Unlike other varanids, this monitor defends its tail rather than lashing with it for defense when threatened.[20] The soles of the feet of the emerald tree monitor have enlarged scales which aid the lizard when climbing.[19]

Ecology

When threatened, the emerald tree monitor will flee through vegetation or bite if cornered.

It is one of the few social monitors, living in small groups made up of a dominant male, several females, and a few other males and juveniles.[3]

Diet

The emerald tree monitor's diet consists of large tree-dwelling

stick insects, cockroaches, beetles, centipedes, spiders and crabs, as well as birds and small mammals (such as the Moncton's mosaic-tailed rat).[21][22] Before swallowing stick insects, the lizards tear off the legs.[16] Captive specimens tear off the limbs of rodents prior to eating them; as a result, they are capable of swallowing mammals of a considerable size: A 135-g lizard was documented as eating a 40-g rodent, almost one-third its size. Paleontologist and Temple University professor Michael Balsai has observed V. prasinus eating fruit (bananas) in captivity as has herpetologist and author Robert G. Sprackland.[20][23]

Reproduction

Clutches consist of up to five eggs, each weighing 10.5–11.5 g (0.37–0.41 oz) and measuring about 2 by 4.5 cm (0.79 by 1.77 in). As many as three clutches are laid throughout the year; clutches have been laid by captives in January, March, April, November, and December. The female emerald tree monitor lays her eggs in arboreal termite nests.[19] The eggs hatch between 160 and 190 days later, typically from June to November, after which the young eat the termites and the termite's eggs within minutes of hatching.[19] Sexual maturity is reached in about one year.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Varanus prasinus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  2. ^ Shea, G., Allison, A., Parker, F. & Tallowin, O. 2018. Varanus prasinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T42485751A101752115. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T42485751A101752115.en.
  3. ^ .
  4. .
  5. ^ Bulmer, RNH (1975). "Kalam Classification of Reptiles And Fishes". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 84 (3): 267–308. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  6. ^ Bennett, D. (1995). A Little Book of Monitor Lizards. Aberdeen, UK: Viper Press.
  7. ^ .
  8. ^ Jacobs, H. J. (2003). A further new emerald tree monitor lizard of the Varanus prasinus species group from Waigeo, West Irian (Squamata: Sauria: Varanidae). Salamandra 39(2): 65-74
  9. .
  10. .
  11. .
  12. .
  13. .
  14. .
  15. ^ Sweet, Samuel S.; Pianka, Eric R. (2007). "Monitors, mammals, and Wallace's Line" (PDF). Mertensiella. 16: 79–99.
  16. ^ .
  17. ^ .
  18. .
  19. ^ .
  20. ^ .
  21. ^ "Varanus prasinus (Emerald Monitor)". Animal Diversity Web.
  22. ^ "Varanus Prasinus".
  23. .

External links