Range: Western and central Africa

Habitat: Lakes and swamps in rainforest and other forest borders

Lifespan: About 15 years

Gestation: Eggs are incubated 4 to 6 months

Offspring: 15 to 30 eggs are laid

Size: Up to 6 feet in length, slightly shorter than common Nile monitors.

Diet: Small animals, such as snails, crabs, fish, small snakes, insects, frogs, turtles, tortoises, small crocodiles, small lizards and the eggs of birds and reptiles.

Characteristics: Ornate Nile monitors generally have a dark olive to black skin, with cream-colored or yellow contrasting stripes on their jaws and head region. These stripes break into a row of chevrons running down the animal’s neck. They also have light-colored tail bands. Colors fade as the animal matures, but they are still prominent. Ornate Nile monitors also have a light-colored to pinkish tongue, whereas common Nile monitors have a bluish-black tongue.

Threats: Major threats to this animal include habitat destruction and hunting for the skin trade. Their skin is used for food and traditional medicines while live animals are exported for the pet trade. The first known captive hatching of this animal occurred at the Bronx Zoo in September 1998.

Varanus Indicus. Varanidae/ Sauria / reptilia

LENGTH: Varanus indicus ranges from 75 to 120 cm in length. The head is long and narrow, with the neck longer than the head. The tail is almost two times the length of the body and strongly compressed.
COLORATION: dark colorations with various small, yellow spots. The iris is dark brown with a golden ring surrounding it, and the palpebrals that surround the eye are sulphur yellow while the remaining surfaces of the eyelids are white. Also, the mouth is sometimes outlined with red and this may attract prey or frighten predators. Komodo dragons show a similar coloration. The red substance is actually blood mixed with saliva.
The Mangrove Monitor has four strong, well developed legs with five, sharp, clawed toes. TEXTURE: The face is smooth and glossy, with large scales. The body and tail are covered with small, oval, keeled scales. The teeth are serrated along their anterior and posterior edges, with the dentary teeth directed slightly laterally and the maxillary teeth directed vertically.
COOL FACTS: A special characteristic of this monitor is that it possesses the ability to greatly increase the size of the mouth by spreading the hyoid apparatus and dropping the lower jaw in order to eat large prey. Another special characteristic of this monitor is that they have no taste buds on their tongue, but they may have taste buds on the roof of their mouth. Although the tongue has no taste buds, it is highly specialized for chemosensory function and is frequently protruded.

HABITAT: Varanus indicus occurs in the Pacific from Japan to southern Australia and on many of the islands of the Pacific. Man-aided dispersal from the East Indies to some small pacific islands was facilitated by Polynesians in order to provide a meat supply. It is not known whether all these island locations were natural or man-aided dispersal. The monitors were also introduced to Japan from the Japanese in the Marshall Islands before World War II. The habitat of V. indicus consists of damp river banks and in coastal forests.

BEHAVIOR: The Mangrove Monitor can be characterized as being an “opportunistic predator” as far as feeding behavior. A study done in 1993 showed that V. indicus in the Southern Mariana Islands shifted major prey classes reflecting changes in the available prey base. The following regular prey of V. indicus have been declining: A land snail, Achatina fulica , has been greatly reduced due to the introduction of the predaceous flatworm, Platydemus manokwari, populations of slugs have been greatly reduced because of the introduction of the Cane Toad, Bufo marinus, and the shrew populations on Guam are low because of the introduction of the Brown Tree Snake. When V. indicus have been observed in captivity, males tend to be more aggressive than females, and if males feel threatened, they don’t bite, but rather defecate on the perceived threat. No courtship behavior has been observed. In one observation, after mounting the female, the male used his chin to rub the dorsum of the female’s head and forequarters. It was also observed that while mounted and oriented head to head, the male and female slowly rotated in a clock-wise direction through 360 degrees with the male remaining superior. They are extremely shy animals.

DIET: The diet of V. indicus consists of small mammals, insects, crabs, bird eggs, birds, and other lizards. A study done in the Northern Mariana Islands and the Territory of Guam between the years of 1989 and 1991 showed the diet of V. indicus, in non-urban settings, consisted of 45% arthropods, 13.6% terrestrial crabs, 27.2% scincid and gekkonid lizards and their eggs, 4.5% of Ramphotyphlops braminus, and rats made of the rest of the diet, at 9.1%. In urban situations, additional food in their diet included domesticated chicken eggs, squid (a common fishing bait), and aluminum butter wrappers.

REPRODUCTION / GROWTH: The clutch size of female V. indicus is about 2-12 eggs, and is smaller than would be expected of a medium sized monitor lizard because female V. indicus are very small. A female observed in Guam laid 22 eggs over a period of three years in clutches of 1-4 eggs. A captive female laid 25 eggs in five clutches over 26 months, with an average of 88 days between the last four clutches and 4-6 eggs in each clutch. The varied clutch sizes indicates that the monitors tend to reproduce continuously when food is abundant, producing large numbers of relatively small clutches. The eggs are about 3.5 – 5 cm in length, are oblong and white, and hatch in about seven to eight months. No care are given to the young by the parents when they hatch. Guam is the only place where a nesting site has been seen, and it was found in guano deposits of a cave-dwelling bird, Aerodromus vanikorensis. The site contained only egg shards. A characteristic of courting exhibited by males involves showing both physical and behavioral control over the female. Males also fight for females. A study done in 1998 looked at the reproductive ecology of V. indicus on Guam. Adult lizards acquire energy stores in the form of fat bodies to meet energy demands during reproduction. In females, stored fat is mostly used for egg production, but in males, the use of fat is not well understood but it could be used for a variety of activities, including reproductive behavior, such as searching for females, courting, mating, and territorial defense, rather than just for spermatogenesis. The results of this study showed that ovarian mass is greater during the dry season for females, the minimum body size at sexual maturity is greater in males than females, and that males have testicular sperm year-round. Fat body mass in males did not differ between seasons, but female fat body mass was greater during the dry season than during the wet season. Reproduction of V. indicus on Guam seems to occur during the dry season (January to April). The reproduction occurring during the dry season can be explained by looking at egg incubation periods and food availability for juveniles. When the young hatch during the wet season, insect abundance is greater, meaning more food for the young.

CONSERVATION STATUS: There is no entry on the Red List 2000 for V. indicus . The major populations of V. indicus include Australia, Guam, Indonesia, Japan, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. In 1994, there was a decline of V. indicus on Guam and the Mariana Islands that could have been due to the effects of urbanization. Also, farmers on these islands see the monitors as pests and try to trap, shoot and poison them because they have witnessed the monitors attacking their domesticated fowl. There is an ethnic group on Guam that eat the monitors as a traditional food, so a business exists to sell the monitors to them. The introduction of the Brown Tree Snake, Boiga irregularis, and the poisonous Cane Toad, Bufo marinus , are also known to affect the monitor population on these islands. Lastly, the mangrove monitor has a beautiful skin and as a result is hunted in many places for its leather. There were CITES export quotas in 1997 and 1998 in Indonesia.

Varanus melinus is a member of the subgenera Euprepiosaurus. It is very close related to V. indicus, but it is very easyly to be distinguished by the yellow coloration.

LENGTH: This species can reach a total length of 80-120 cm.
COLORATION: The coloration of the head, back, legs, and tail is a bright yellow. A black reticulation starts at the lower third of the neck and is most prominent at the body. There some yellow spots, sometimes forming yellow ocelli, are ordered in regular cross row over the back. The tail is banded alternately black and yellow on the first two thirds, getting more pale in the lower third. The underside from head, throat, body, legs, and tail uniformly pale yellow, only on the throat a light black reticulation is visible. 124-130 scales are around midbody. The nostril is situated closer to the tip of the snout than to the eye. The tongue is uniformly light pink.

DISTRIBUTION: restricted to the the island of Obi in the Moluccas, Indonesia. But because these data are only known by the dealer, who shipped some animals over to Germany and the USA, it is no sure, that it is correct (BÖHME & ZIEGLER 1997). It is also reported, that V. melinus might occur on the Sula Islands, western Moluccas. V. melinus also might occur on Taliabu, Bowokan, and Banggai Island.

FOOD/ HABITAT: Meat almost any kind, eggs (cooked so the risk of Salmonella is lowered), mice, rats, crickets (when small), fish, giant meal worms and I have found that canned cat food is similar enough to the canned monitor/tegu food to be fed. They are scavengers also so if you see that they don�t eat right away don�t be alarmed. I feed her twice a week but it can vary on size and what you are giving, if you give a big meal don�t feed them the next day if it�s a small meal maybe feed in another day or 2.

IN CAPTIVITY: Because Varanus melinus became known to the public and science only some years ago (BÖHME & ZIEGLER 1997) only very little is known of the captive husbandry of this monitor lizard.
DEDLMAR & BÖHME (2000) desccribed the first capive reproduction of this monitor. They kept 2.4 specimen in several enclosures, each measuring 180 x 110 x 200 cm with a water basin measuring 125 x 110 x 50 cm. The side and the back walls are covered with cork plates. Some big trunks and some plastic plants are for climbing and shelter for the animals.
Mice and big locusts build the major diet for the monitors. Live fish were never taken, but fish fillets and prawns were always welcome.
In April 1999 one of the females laid two unfertile eggs. The same female laid again 6 eggs inAugust of the same year. All eggs were fertile and after an incubation of 168-171 days at an incubation temperature of 28.5°C five babies hatched. The other one just died about 10 days before hatching. The offspring had a total length of 210-220 mm and had a body mass of 21-23 g. Some days after hatching the youngsters started to feed on house crickets. About one month later the first pinkie mice were offerd and taken. No further problems were reported.

Can grow up to Five feet long in total. There are black spots on the body and the tail can be banded. The teeth are really shapr and can draw blood easily but the bites don’t hurt much.
They’re skittish and handling them can calm them down. Catching them wild might take them longer to calm down. They still want to run and hide.

They have long sharp claws that will scratch your arms. Tail whipping and bowel evacuation are also defense mechanisms. Males have hemipenal bulges and females don’t.

WATER NEEDS: A Large water dish big enough for them to swim in, which needs to be changed daily as they will get it filthy with dirt and feces. They love to dig and create burrows. 3 or 4 feet of soil or soil mix would be good. Include a hide box and include lots of branches. They love to climb. The bigger the tank/enclosure the better.

LIGHTING: I have a combination strip light with florescent and incandescent light bulbs. Never go over the suggested wattage of the light fixture. Day cycle should be on around 10-12 hours and the night cycle should allow for cooling, but not too much. The light bulbs should be ones made for reptiles so they get the added UVA/UVB that is important for proper health.

TEMPERATURE: A basking spot of up to 125 or more. The rest of the tank should be from around 95 to 80 and the humidity should be kept high.

LOCATION:
On the Island of New Guinea.

CLOSE RELATIVES:
Blue tail monitor and the mangrove monitor. Each of the three use different parts of new guinea’s habitats.

HABITAT:
Preferences: dense forests; for they’re excellent climbers.

DIET:
Frogs, lizards, insects, any small animal they can overpower.

PHYSICAL APPEREANCE:
They can get up to 4 feet long in total length. They can live up to 15 years.

IN CAPTIVITY:
They take a while to tame and adjust in captivity, like most other lizards. The cage would need several hiding spots for security purposes. They should be maintained between 85 – 90 degrees with a basking spot of 95. At night temps shoudl be about 75. Bark or coconut bark is best, because it holds moisture well and duplicates the natural environment. Feed them mice, rats, fish, crickets, hardboiled eggs. Four or five times a week will ensure proper growth and health. Make sure to give them a calcium suppelement.

thanks to: reptileguru.com

Varanus auffenbergi

The peacock monitor was only described as a new species in 1999! But it’s not that different from Varanus Timorensis, or the Timor Monitor (Spotted Tree Monitor). The coloration and spot pattern as the only difference. The difference is the blue grey ocelli, whereas the Timors are creame colored, and they don’t have a pattern on their underside. The Peacock has some pattern on its bottom side. The color up top is dark grey. Numorous ocelli, (photoreceptor organs on animals; spots that sense light but not its direction). They have central spots, often light blue to grey. A red brown pattern is visible otherwise.
Strangely, these patterns fade after keeping in time in captivity.After this period, its hard to differentiate between the two.
In number, there are as many as there are Timors.

It’s length is up to 60 cm, or about 23.5 inches.The tail is relatively fat and round in cross section. Light scales form an irregular pattern.

The Peacock Monitor is mainly located on the island of Roti, Southwest of Timor.

In captivity they are relatively shy, but are not much different than taking care of the Spotted Tree Monitors.

We’ve wanted these small monitors for some time and finally have them. Without a doubt, these are the most elegant small monitor around. There outgoing attitude makes them irrestible to anyone that has had the pleasure of handling one. They often run up your arm and sit on your shoulder when you open their cage door.

Yet another Australial gem. Kimberley’s are known to inhabit the extreme north of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Their grace and beauty make them one of the most sought after varanids in the hobby. The color and pattern are rarely captured in photographs and need to be seen to be appreciate to the fullest.

This stunning monitor reaches 60-70 cm TL.

An insect and rodent based diet serves them well in captivity. Although sometimes a challenging feeder, kimberleys are worth the effort.

Our male and female are both very mellow and a joy to keep. When it comes to beauty, Kimberleys are second to none.

Their slender build and extreme contrast in pattern are sure to catch your eye and pique your interest.

Still very rare in private collections, this monitor is for the discerning keeper who wants to add rarity to their collection that will set them apart from the crowd..

The Savannah Monitor (Varanus exanthematicus) gets its Latin name from the large, flat oval scales on the back of the neck which could be said to erupt, and its common name from the impression that it lives on the African savannah in the wild. The term savannah monitor is also used in reference to several other species of savannah-dwelling monitors. In the U.K. the species is often known as “Bosc’s Monitor Lizard.” It is a robust creature, with powerful limbs for digging, powerful jaws and blunt, peglike teeth. Maximum size is rarely more than 100cm. Its diet is much more restricted than that of other African monitor lizards, consisting mainly of snails, milipedes, orthopterans, beetles and other invertebrates. The only vertebrates regularly consumed are amphibians.

Its range extends from Senegal as far as Eritrea and northern Zaire. Varanus exanthematicus is primarily a ground dwelling species that shelters in burrows, although they are sometimes found in bushes or low trees. In the coastal plain of Ghana juvenile Varanus exanthematicus are often associated with the burrows of the giant cricket Brachytrupes.

This species is readily available in the pet trade. Juvenile animals are collected from several countries in West Africa (mainly Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria) and exported worldwide. Animals sold as captive bred, captive farmed or ranched are the offspring of gravid females collected during the breeding season whose eggs are incubated by exporters. Adult specimens frequently become unwanted pets and are reported as being the most common monitor lizards by animal rescue agencies. However the vast majority die within a year of capture and captive breeding is very rare. The skins of the species are important in the international leather trade and originate mainly from Chad, Mali and Sudan.

Bosc’s Monitor is often confused with the Whitethroat Monitor (Varanus albigularis) which can grow to lengths of 5-6 feet. While similar in overall appearance, this species possesses significant morphological and ecological differences and is recognized as a very distinct species.

The salivary glands of many, if not all, species of monitor lizards produce venom in very low concentrations with vestigal function (Fry et al., 2006). The effect of these proteins on humans is negligible and the animals are not considered venomous. Complications arising from lizard bites are almost aways the result of infections.

Dumeril’s Monitor is a large, elusive lizard native to Southeastern Asia. Until several years ago, there was a large pet trade in Dumeril’s Monitor. They are very difficult to find in the wild and rather hard to breed in captivity, and so it is now often hard to find a Dumeril’s Monitor for sale.

Compared to other Monitors the Dumeril’s Monitor is relatively non-aggressive. But they are relatively aggressive when compared to other lizards in general. Aggression levels will vary between individuals, and like other lizards, an individual’s temperament often reflects factors such as the amount of handling they receive and length of time in captivity; but like all monitors they are predators and their behavior does reflect this. Because Dumeril’s Monitors are very secretive animals, it is unknown whether the animal is common or rare. In fact, very little about the Dumeril’s Monitor is known. They usually make their homes in wooded areas near swamps or other bodies of water. They feed primarily on crabs, although if crabs are not available they may also eat insects. It is believed that Dumeril’s Monitor is specially adapted to eat crabs: they puncture the shells with sharp, scant teeth and swallow the meat whole. Some researchers have said that wild Dumeril’s Monitors eat birds, green turtle eggs, and ants. These claims cannot be proven or disproved. There has been no observation of Dumeril’s Monitor hatchlings in the wild. Hatchlings born in captivity resemble King Cobra hatchlings, which may be an attempt to mimic an unappetizing animal. Captive hatchlings often bury themselves or spend much of their time on the branches of trees. Excellent swimmers, Dumeril’s Monitors are also adept at climbing. They spend large portions of their day asleep in tree hollows and crevices between rocks. They may be habitual animals, returning to the same place daily to sleep and eat. Dumeril’s Monitors, mostly the males, will fight by standing on their hind limbs with their front limbs on the other’s shoulders, trying to push each other over.

Dumeril’s Monitors are relatively large lizards, often reaching five feet in length. As hatchlings, they are very colorful with bright orange heads and yellow patterns traversing their black bodies. The hatchlings also have a vertical mouth band. As they mature, the colors fade to shades of olive, and the black changes to olive-brown.

A French herpetologist who lived between 1774 and 1860 was the first person to describe Dumeril’s Monitor. This man, A.M.C. Dumeril, lent his name to the species. They live in Southeastern Asia, including Burma, Thailand, Malaya, Vietnam, Borneo and Laos. Because they are difficult to breed in captivity, Dumeril’s Monitor is often difficult to acquire as a pet, however, the Buffalo Zoo has a pair that they have successfully bred several times.

REPTILE INFO NOT FOUND! HELP US BY SUBMITTING INFORMATION under comments.

This Australian dwarf species looks very similar to V.acanthurus. Even experts have been wrong in the past. The biggest difference between these two species are their markings and pattern. The easiest way to tell the difference is by close comparison. V.baritji lacks the light and dark dorsal neck stripes and the ocellated markings on the back in comparison to V.acanthurus.

Scientific name: Varanus albigularis albigularis
Family: Varanidae
Order: Sauria
Class: Reptilia

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

The White-throated Monitor has a large and muscular body, an elongated head with a dome-shaped snout, short sturdy limbs, and a strong, thick tail. The length of the tail slightly exceeds the sum of the animals head and body lengths. Furthermore, the tail functions as a prehensile organ, a rudder, and as a weapon. The front legs are surmounted with long, sharp claws that enable this lizard to dig and climb. White-throated Monitors are adept climbers. As common to all Varanidae, they have long, forked tongues. The tongue is not only used for drinking but also in a sensory capacity. It is a common myth told to tourists that the White-throated Monitor lizards suck milk from cattle udders. The adult White-throated Monitor can attain lengths up to 120 to 150 cm (4 6 ft.) from the tip of its snout to the end of its tail. The average weight of the adult male is 8 kg (17.5 lbs). The adult female has an average mass of 6.5kg (14 lbs.) In captivity, both sexes tend to become obese, weighing up to 20 kg (44 lbs). An ivory-colored throat is the distinguishing characteristic of this monitor. Its body is covered with 110 to 140 small, beadlike scales that form reticulated and banded patterns of gray, brown, and black, intermingled with conspicuous yellow and/or white patterning.

DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:

The White-throated Monitor is found throughout Central and Southern Africa. The White-throated Monitor is both terrestrial and arboreal. It inhabits the savanna, steppe, open bush, and woodland regions. However, it is not generally found near water sources. This monitor has a large home range relative to its body size. The home ranges of males average 18.3 square kilometers (approx. 7 sq. miles), whereas the home ranges of females average 6.1 square kilometers (approx. 2.5 sq. miles). Researchers have shown that the home ranges of both sexes do indeed overlap.

BEHAVIOR:

The White-throated Monitors are essentially solitary individuals. They generally ignore each other until the mating season. These monitors are diurnal. Active during the day. Reproductive males and females will fully utilize their home range foraging during the wet season. Only the males roam their home ranges during mating season, whereas the females remain in one particular location of their home range. Throughout the remainder of the year when prey populations are low to nonexistent, both sexes limit their daily movements and remain basically sedentary so as to conserve energy. It should be noted that the White-throated Monitor will not attack humans unless provoked. When threatened, the White-throated Monitor will assume an intimidating posture by arching its neck, puffing out its throat, and hissing loudly. It will then lash out with its tail and bite violently at anything within its reach. This monitor is a formidable opponent. As a last effort, it will allow itself to be attacked. When its foe leaves it for dead, this monitor is able to survive because it is able to rapidly recuperate. White-throated Monitors have been noted to fight to the death. The main competitor of the White-throated Monitor is the black-backed jackal, as both have similar diets. Predators of this monitor are ratels, birds of prey, and most large carnivores.

DIET:

The White-throated Monitor is a voracious feeder between the months of January to February, also known as the wet season. It will travel long distances in search of prey. During the dry season from July to December, it fasts losing approximately 4% of its body weight per month. Research has shown that this monitor has an adaptive relationship between its feeding habits and digestive responses similar to sit-and-wait foraging snakes. This adaptation serves to conserve energy during the long interval between meals. Its diet in the wild ranges from invertebrates, small reptiles, birds and eggs to occasionally small mammals and carrion. Dead and decaying flesh. Land snails are the favorite prey. Studies have shown that it uses visual and chemical cues in distinguishing its prey. This monitor is a selective feeder. It seeks to obtain the highest caloric intake at the least energy expense of handling time despite the availability of other prey choices. The White-throated Monitor does not chew its food, but instead swallows small prey or large pieces of prey whole by increasing the size of its mouth. This is accomplished by spreading the hyoid apparatus and dropping the lower jaw.

REPRODUCTION and GROWTH:

White-throated Monitors are oviparous. In the wild, females will produce one clutch of up to 50 eggs. However in captivity, females will lay multiple clutches per year. During the cool, dry season from May to August, the male will go on a tour of his home range six weeks prior to mating. He will visit the locations of reproductive females. The male exhibits the same behavior patterns as when foraging. During this period, the females remain relatively stationary, preferring to remain upon elevated sites, such as trees and rocks. During this period of touring, it appears that feeding or mating does not occur. The male seems to remember the locations of the fertile females and will return to mate with them at their optimum time. During the courtship, the male will wipe his mouth on elevated objects immediately adjacent to the female and display vent dragging. He will make exaggerated, spasmodic movements as he approaches the female. The response of the female is to flatten her body and press her head down to the ground. Before actual contact, the males will flick his tongue around the females mouth, hind legs, and the base of her tail. The female remains passive during courtship and mating; therefore, there is no aggression between the sexes. White-throated Monitors prefer to copulate in trees. Intruding males will be chased away by the resident male. Researchers did not observe any ritualistic combat between males. Both sexes will mate with multiple partners. The female lays her eggs in a nest in an abandoned ground squirrel burrow. The eggs are covered and left to hatch. Egg laying usually occurs two months prior to a significant rainfall. The eggs are turgid and possess a high water content. The hatchlings emerge throughout the rainy season and feed primarily upon invertebrates. During the next three months, they will triple their mass and double in body length. In the wild, less than half of the hatchlings will survive. White-throated Monitors are reproductive at 3 – 5 years of age. Their life expectancy is about 15 years.

CONSERVATION STATUS:

This species of monitor is classified as threatened by CITES under Appendix II. The greatest threat to White-throated Monitor populations is habitat destruction and fragmentation. The native inhabitants hunt the White-throated Monitor for its alleged medicinal properties. This animal is also hunted for its hide and as a food source. This species, as well as all monitors, are sold worldwide as part of the exotic pet trade. One of the unfortunate consequences of the illegal export/import of monitors is the spread of parasites. Three species of African ticks parasitize the White-throated Monitor: Aponomma exornatum, Aponomma flavomaculatum , and Aponomma latum. These ticks are vectors of the deadly heartwater disease, which is a serious threat to domesticated animals. Recently, this disease afflicted sheep, cattle, and deer in Florida. Monitor ticks are also vectors of Coxiella burnetti, a Rickettsiales agent responsible for Q fever in humans. Q fever is characterized by fever and pneumonia-like symptoms. It is rarely fatal.