Black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor

The black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor (Varanus baritji), also called commonly the black-spotted spiny-tailed monitor, the lemon-throated monitor, the northern ridge-tailed monitor, Whites monitor, and the yellow-throated monitor, is a species of lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is 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] It was first described in 1987.[2] It is also known as White's dwarf goanna.[3]

Black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor
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

Etymology

The specific name, baritji, is an Australian aboriginal word for white, in honour of Australian biological anthropologist Neville White who discovered the species.[4][5]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of V. baritji is rocky areas.[1]

Description

V. baritji has a spiny tail, and is similar in appearance to Varanus acanthurus, but differs in colour pattern. 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 centimetres (28 in) in length.[3]

Reproduction

V. baritji is oviparous.[5]

References
  1. Gillespie G, Greenlees M, Woinarski J, Vanderduys E (2018) "Varanus baritji ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T83777354A101752290. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T83777354A101752290.en. Downloaded on 28 December 2020.
  2. King M, 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. (Varanus baritji, new species).
  3. Mampam.com
  4. 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 baritji, p. 284).
  5. Species Varanus baritji at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading
  • Bennet DF (2003). "Australische Warane". Reptilia (Münster) 8 (5): 18–25. (in German).
  • Bennett D (1995). A Little Book of Monitor Lizards. London: Viper Press. 220 pp. ISBN 978-0952663201.
  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
  • 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. (in German).
  • Hörenberg T, Koch A (2013). "Die Zwergwarane der Untergattung Odatria Gray, 1838 ". Draco 13 (53): 6–19. (in German).
  • 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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