Black-throated monitor

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Black-throated monitor
The dude on couch(monitor).JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Species:
Subspecies:
V. a. microstictus
Trinomial name
Varanus albigularis microstictus
Boettger, 1893
Synonyms [1]
  • Varanus microstictus
    Boettger, 1893
  • Varanus exanthematicus microstictus
    Mertens, 1942
  • Varanus exanthematicus ionidesi
    Laurent, 1964
  • Varanus albigularis microstictus
    Böhme, 1988
  • Varanus albigularis ionidesi
    — Böhme, 1988
  • Varanus albigularis microstictus
    Phillips in Pianka, D. King & R. King, 2004

The black-throated monitor (Varanus albigularis microstictus) is a subspecies of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The subspecies is native to Tanzania. [2]

Contents

Description

Varanus albigularis microstictus is usually a dark gray-brown with yellowish or white markings, and can reach up to 7 feet (2.1 m) in total length (including tail) and weigh more than 60 pounds (27 kg). It is the largest of the four subspecies of the rock monitor, V. albigularis. [2]

Etymology

The generic name, Varanus, is derived from the Arabic word waral ورل, which is translated to English as "warn" or "warning."

The specific name, albigularis, comes from a compound of two Latin words: albus meaning "white" and gula meaning "throat".

The subspecific synonym, ionidesi, is in honor of Constantine John Philip Ionides (1901-1968), called the "Snake Man of British East Africa". [3]

Diet

In captivity V. a. microstictus feeds mainly on whole prey, such as mice, rats, snakes, lizards, freshwater mollusks, small birds, large roaches, crustaceans, fish, and eggs. It will commonly accept cat and dog food, which is not acceptable as a staple diet due to an improper nutrient profile and high caloric content. In the wild, it will eat anything it can catch. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. Species Varanus albigularis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  2. 1 2 3 "Black Throated Monitor". Twycross Zoo. Archived from the original on 22 December 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  3. 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 albigularis ionidesi, p. 130).

Further reading