Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: monitor, Ornate Nile Monitor, Ornatus, varanus
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.
Filed under: Monitors, Reptiles | Tags: glauerti, kimberley rock monitor, varanus
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..
Filed under: Monitors, Reptiles | Tags: bosc's monitor, lizard, monitor, savannah monitor, varanus
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.
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.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: albigularis, varanus, white throated monitor
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. 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. 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.
| Latin name: | Dutch name: | English name: | German name: |
| Varanus acanthurus | Stekelstaart varaan | Spiny-Tailed goanna / Ridge Tail monitor | Stachelschwanzwaran |
| Varanus albigularis | Witkeelvaraan | White-throated monitor | Kapwaran |
| Varanus auffenbergi | Peacock monitor / blue Timor monitor | ||
| Varanus baritji | WHITE’s dwarf goanna | ||
| Varanus beccarii | Zwarte boomvaraan | Black tree monitor | Schwarzer baumwaran |
| Varanus bengalensis | Bengaalse varaan | Bengal monitor | Bengalwaran |
| Varanus boehmei | Goudgevlekte boomvaraan | Golden Speckled Tree monitor | Goldgefleckter Baumwaran |
| Varanus bogerti | Bogert’s varaan | Bogert’s monitor | Bogertwaran |
| Varanus brevicauda | Short-tailed goanna | ||
| Varanus bushi | |||
| Varanus caeruliverens | Turkoois varaan | Turquoise / Blue pinspot monitor | |
| Varanus caudolineatus | Streepstaartvaraan | Stripe-tailed goanna | |
| Varanus cerambonensis | Ambon monitor | ||
| Varanus doreanus | Blauwstaartvaraan | Blue-tailed monitor | |
| Varanus dumerilii | Dumerili varaan | Dumeril’s monitor | Dumrilwaran |
| Varanus dwyeri | |||
| Varanus eremius | Pygmy desert goanna | ||
| Varanus exanthematicus | Bosc’s monitor lizard | Steppenwaran | |
| Varanus finschi | Finschi’s monitor | ||
| Varanus flavescens | Yellow monitor / Short-toed monitor | Gelbwaran | |
| Varanus giganteus | Perentie | Perentie | |
| Varanus gilleni | Gillen’s goanna / Mulga monitor | ||
| Varanus glauerti | Glauert’s varaan | Glauert’s goanna | |
| Varanus glebopalma | Twilight goanna / Long tailed rock monitor | ||
| Varanus gouldii | Gouldsvaraan | Gould’s goanna | Gouldswaran |
| Varanus griseus | Grey / Caspian / Indian desert – monitor | Wstenwaran | |
| Varanus indicus | Mangrove varaan | Mangrove monitor | Pazifikwaran |
| Varanus jobiensis | Sepik monitor / Peach-throated monitor | ||
| Varanus juxtindicus | Rennell island monitor | ||
| Varanus keithhornei | Blauwneusvaraan | Blue-nosed goanna / Canopy monitor | Queensland-baumwaran |
| Varanus kingorum | King’s goanna | ||
| Varanus komodoensis | Komodovaraan | Komodo Dragon | Komodowaran |
| Varanus kordensis | |||
| Varanus mabitang | Panay monitor | ||
| Varanus macraei | Blue tree / Mac Rae’s monitor | ||
| Varanus melinus | Gele boomvaraan | Quince / Yellow monitor lizard | Quittenwaran |
| Varanus mertensi | Mertens watervaraan | Mertens’ goanna | Wasserwaran |
| Varanus mitchelli | Mitchell’s goanna | ||
| Varanus niloticus | Nijlvaraan | Nile monitor | Nilwaran |
| Varanus olivaceus | Gray’s monitor | Olivwaran | |
| Varanus ornatus | Nijlvaraan | Ornate monitor | Nilwaran |
| Varanus panoptes | Argus monitor | Arguswaran | |
| Varanus pilbarensis | Pilbara goanna | ||
| Varanus prasinus | Smaragd varaan | Green tree monitor, Emerald monitor | Smaragdwaran |
| Varanus primordius | Blunt-nosed goanna | ||
| Varanus reisingeri | Gele boomvaraan | Yellow tree monitor | |
| Varanus rosenbergi | Rosenberg’s goanna | Schwarzer Sandwaran | |
| Varanus rudicollis | Rough-necked monitor | Rauhnackenwaran | |
| Varanus salvadorii | Salvadori’s monitor / Crocodile monitor | Papuawaran | |
| Varanus salvator | Watervaraan | Water monitor | Bindenwaran |
| Varanus scalaris | Gebandeerde boomvaraan | Banded tree goanna | |
| Varanus semiremex | Rusty goanna | ||
| Varanus similis | Spotted tree goanna | ||
| Varanus spenceri | Spencer’s goanna | Spencerwaran | |
| Varanus spinulosus | Keeled Monitor Lizard | ||
| Varanus storri | Storr’s goanna | ||
| Varanus telenesetes | Rossel island monitor | ||
| Varanus timorensis | Timorvaraan | Timor monitor | Timorwaran |
| Varanus tristis | freckled / mournful / black-headed -goanna | Trauerwaran | |
| Varanus varius | Lace monitor | Buntwaran | |
| Varanus yemenensis | Yemen monitor | ||
| Varanus yuwonoi | Tricolored monitor | ||
| Varanus zugorum |
Adult Back tree monitors are completely black in color, while young offspring tend to exhibit lighter shades of green. Like other monitors, Black tree monitors have long, sharp claws and strong jaws. Their teeth are longer than the other monitor species, which enables them to hold on to prey they catch high up in the canopy. They are often sold as pets and do well in captivity with a heat lamp, as long as temperatures maintain 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with a basking temperature of 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Food:
Black Tree Monitors are carnivorous(meat eaters). In the wild, Black tree monitors eat snails, grasshoppers, beetles, scorpions, birds eggs, fish, other lizards, snakes, nestling birds, and shrews. In captivity the Black tree monitor eats crickets, roaches, mealworms, ground turkey and cat food.
Social Structure: When threatened monitors inflate their neck and hiss at an intruder. Their ribs may spread out a bit as the monitor takes in air to inflate its body. This makes the monitor appear larger to its enemy. Unlike other monitors, the Black tree monitor does not use its tail to lash at intruders. The black tree monitor is very quick and agile and can often escape its enemies by rapidly climbing trees. They may resort to biting and clawing, as a means of defense if their escape is not successful. Monitors are daytime lizards and spend most of their days living in treetops or swamps in search for food.
Senses: Black tree monitors, like all reptiles, are ectothermic (cold-blooded animals.) They have leathery, dry skin and are unable to produce their own body heat, so they must rely on basking in the sun for warmth. Monitors have excellent eye-sight and can sense movement from as far as 250 meters away. They also have a tongue like a snake. This fork-like tongue provides them with the superior sense of smell by bringing sent particles into their mouth, so they are able to taste what other animals can only smell. This special sense allows monitors to locate food, a mate, or an enemy.
This black monitor is one of the few monitor species with the ability to use its tail as a fifth limb. Closely related species are V.prasinus, V.boehmei, V.bogerti, V.keithhornei, V.macraei, V.telenesetes and V.reisingeri.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: acanthurus, spiny tailed monitor, varanus
The Spiny-tailed Monitor or Ridge-tailed Monitor (Varanus acanthurus) is a small species of monitor lizard. They are native to Northwestern Australia and live in a variety of habitats from arid to tropical regions. Spiny-tailed Monitors are usually a reddish brown with yellow markings but color and pattern can vary with geographic origin. A distinctive feature is their thick spined tail – hence their common name. This tail is used for both attacking prey and for protection from predators. When attacking prey the tail is used like a whip, stunning the prey item which is then consumed without expending further effort. When used in defense, the Ridge-tail will scramble into loose rocks or boulders and use its tail to wedge itself in tight. The spikes give the tail good grip on the rocks, making extraction by other predators nearly impossible. In the species’ home territory, the tail is often found discarded near Ridge-tail carcasses, indicating that predators of this species consider the tail inedible.
Filed under: Monitors | Tags: acanthurus, heating, lighting, monitor, varanus
Temps
What’s the best temperature for your ackie? Only it knows! Besause we cannot possibly know what the “best” temp is, we have to offer a wide range of temps. You should provide a basking spot of 120 degrees farenheit and a cold spot of 75, with everything in between. If you provide a range of everything within safe limits, and let your lizard choose what it wants, you can’t go wrong.
Light
Light has been a big issue with lizards since I can remember. With all the misinformation on UVA and UVB and ‘full spectrum’ lighting it’s hard to tell how to aproach the light situation. Which bulb is best? The answer: it doesn’t matter! Simple flourescent lights work perfectly for ambient light, and simple incadescent bulbs work great for heating. Both can be purchased cheaply at any hardware store. If you want to make sure your ackie gets the right vitamins, supplement the diet with vitamin supplements like “rep-cal” or “herptivite”, don’t leave it to a light.
Filed under: Monitors | Tags: acanthurus, ackie, feeding, spiny tailed monitor, varanus
Feeding varanus acanthurus isn’t a hard task. The only thing ‘hard’ about it is being thorough. All monitors need a varied diet, and ackies are no exception. Because of their small size, a mostly-insect diet (the correct diet) is highly feasible. Here, we’ll discuss several possibilities for an ackie diet.
- Crickets – By far the most popular insect food item. They are easily and cheaply obtainable, and make a great staple food item. Also, they can provide a good source of exercise for the lizards, as well as entertainment for the owner.
- Mealworms – Another ideal source of food. Mealworms are small and easily stored. An excellent ‘treat’.
- Cockroaches – Though more expensive than the previously mentioned food items, these are excellent food for monitors. An added plus, is that if you invest in a small colony, and keep them right you’ll have babies in no time, perfect size for ackies.
- Pinkies – A classic choice for medium to small sized lizards… however it isn’t a good choice. Pinky mice and rats are very high in fat, and not too high in nutrients. They are the equivalent of a stick of butter for us. Real high fat, but not a lot of roughage. A horrible staple, but they make a good treat.
