Rusty desert monitor
Rusty desert monitor | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Varanidae |
Genus: | Varanus |
Subgenus: | Odatria |
Species: | V. eremius
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Binomial name | |
Varanus eremius |
The rusty desert monitor (Varanus eremius)
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
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
- . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e "Monitor-lizards.net". Archived from the original on 19 May 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Uniprot.org
- ^ JCVI.org
- ^ Kingsnake.com
- ^ arod.com.au
- ^ Pianka, E. R. (1968). Notes on the biology of Varanus eremius. West. Aust. Nat. 11: 39-44 1968; Houston 1978;
- ^ 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.
- ^ ISSN 0004-959X.
- ^ UTtexas.edu
- ^ "Varanus Eremius".
- Mampam.com (Retrieved Aug. 10, 2010)