Rusty desert monitor

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Rusty desert monitor

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: Odatria
Species:
V. eremius
Binomial name
Varanus eremius
Lucas & Frost, 1895[2][3]

The rusty desert monitor (Varanus eremius)

oviparous as with other monitor lizards.[7]

Taxonomy

A description of the species was presented to the Royal Society of Victoria in 1895 by Arthur H. S. Lucas and Charles Frost.[2]

Distribution

Varanus eremius is the most widespread of the pygmy goannas. It lives in

range possibly includes Queensland, as well.;[8][9]
Storr & Harold 1980).

Description

The rusty desert monitor reaches a total length of about 50 cm.[3] The colouration of this monitor lizard on the upper side is light to dark reddish-brown with numerous, irregularly distributed, black or deep-brown spots. Sometimes, smaller primrose or cream-colored spots are present. Its tail shows alternating cream-colored and deep-brown longitudinal stripes, which are often broken up into scattered spots at the tail base. A conspicuous black stripe occurs from the snout to the eye.[3]

Behaviour

This species spends its life on the ground and seldom climbs trees. No successful breeding in captivity has yet been reported.[3]

Diet

Stomach contents indicate the diet by volume of the rusty desert monitor consists mainly of other lizards (76%), especially Ctenotus.[10] The remainder of animals eaten by this monitor include large grasshoppers and occasional scorpions, centipedes, cockroaches and caterpillars.[11][12]

Parasites

As a result of a diet of primarily lizard prey, which are hosts for physalopteran nematodes, this species in the wild has a higher prevalence and intensity of larval cysts in the stomach tissue and body cavity than any other species of monitor lizard. However, the development of worms are arrested in a cystic stage in V. eremius, reducing the burden of adult worms on the host's body. [10]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T83777752A101752305.en
    . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Lucas, A.H.S.; Frost., C. (1895). "Preliminary notice of certain new species of lizards from central Australia". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 7: 264–269.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Monitor-lizards.net". Archived from the original on 19 May 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  4. ^ Uniprot.org
  5. ^ JCVI.org
  6. ^ Kingsnake.com
  7. ^ arod.com.au
  8. ^ Pianka, E. R. (1968). Notes on the biology of Varanus eremius. West. Aust. Nat. 11: 39-44 1968; Houston 1978;
  9. ^ Storr G M (1980). The monitor lizards (genus Varanus Merrem, 1820) of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 8(2) 1980: 237-293.
  10. ^
    ISSN 0004-959X
    .
  11. ^ UTtexas.edu
  12. ^ "Varanus Eremius".
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