Peacock monitor

Peacock monitor
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Anguimorpha
Family:	Varanidae
Genus:	Varanus
Subgenus:	Odatria
Species:	V. auffenbergi
Binomial name
Varanus auffenbergi Sprackland, 1999 [2]

The peacock monitor (Varanus auffenbergi), also known commonly as Auffenberg's monitor, is a species of small monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species, which belongs to the subgenus Odatria, is endemic to Rote Island, Indonesia. ^[3]

Etymology

The generic name Varanus is derived from the Arabic word waral ورل, (alternative spelling waran= "lizard"). The name comes from a common semitic root ouran, waran, or waral, meaning "lizard". ^[4] The occasional habit of varanids to stand on their two hind legs and to appear to "monitor" their surroundings may have led to this name, as it was Latinized into Varanus. The specific name auffenbergi honors US herpetologist Walter Auffenberg. ^[5]

Description

Adult male from Rote Island. (Despite the caption, it is a peacock monitor, as it is from Rote Island)

The peacock monitor is one of the smaller monitor lizards, usually reaching a length of 60 cm (23.5 in). ^[3] It is similar to the Timor monitor (V. timorensis), with some differentiation in the underside coloring and patterns. The coloring patterns fade as these lizards reach adulthood. The peacock monitor has blue-grey ocelli, whereas the Timor monitor has cream-colored ocelli. ^[6]

Behavior

In the wild, peacock monitors have been seen climbing the trunks of palms and then basking on the crowns of the trees. ^[7] The peacock monitor is calm and shy compared to other monitor lizards, remaining shy even in captivity. ^[3]

References

1. Arida, E.; Reilly, S. (2021). "Varanus auffenbergi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021 e.T83777277A83777299. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. "Varanus auffenbergi . ITIS.gov" . Retrieved 10 February 2010.
3. "Reptiliana.wordpress.com". 16 March 2008. (Retrieved Feb. 10, 2010.)
4. Sprackland, Robert George (1992). Giant Lizards. Neptune, New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications. p. 61. ISBN   0-86622-634-6.
5. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Varanus auffenbergi, p.12).
6. monitor-lizards.net Archived 2010-05-19 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved Feb. 10, 2010.)
7. Del Canto R (2007). "Notes on the occurrence of Varanus auffenbergi on Roti Island". Biawak Quarterly Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry1 (1): 24–25.

External links and further reading

• Sprackland RG (1999). "New species of monitor (Squamata: Varanidae) from Indonesia". Reptile Hobbyist4 (6): 20–27. (Varanus auffenbergi, new species).
• JCVI.org (Downloaded Feb. 10, 2010.)
• Varanaus.nl (Downloaded Feb. 10, 2010.)
• ITIS.gov (Downloaded Feb.11, 2010)
• Museumstuff.com (Downloaded Feb.11, 2010)
• Wesiak K (2008). "Unterbringung, Pflege und Nachzucht von Varanus (Odatria) auffenbergi SPRACKLAND 1999 [=Housing, care and breeding of Varanus (Odatria) auffenbergi SPRACKLAND 1999]". Elaphe16 (1): 37–47. (in German).
• Green, Brian; King, Dennis (1999). Monitors : The Biology of Varanid Lizards, 2nd ed. Malabar: Krieger Publishing Company.
• King, Ruth Allen; Pianka, Eric R.; King, Dennis (2004). Varanoid Lizards of the World. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. pp. 225–229. ISBN   0-253-34366-6.
• King, Dennis & Green, Brian. (1999). Goannas: The Biology of Varanid Lizards. University of New South Wales Press. ISBN   0-86840-456-X
• Behavior video on YouTube