Rock monitor

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Rock monitor
White-throated Monitor (Varanus albigularis) (5984080381).jpg
White-throated monitor at Kruger National Park, South Africa
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: Polydaedalus
Species:
V. albigularis
Binomial name
Varanus albigularis
(Daudin, 1802) [2] [3]
Synonyms [4]

The rock monitor (Varanus albigularis) is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, where, on average it is the largest lizard found on the continent. It is called leguaan or likkewaan in some areas.

Contents

Taxonomy

First described by François Marie Daudin in 1802, [2] V. albigularis had been classified as a subspecies of V. exanthematicus , [5] but has since been declared a distinct species, based on differences in hemipenal morphology. [6] The generic name Varanus is derived from the Arabic word waral ورل (English: "monitor"). The specific name albigularis comes from a compound of two Latin words, albus (meaning "white") and gula ("throat").

Subspecies of V. albigularis are:

Description

Varanus albigularis is on average the most massive lizard in Africa, as adult males average about 6 to 8 kg (13 to 18 lb) and females weigh from 3.2 to 5 kg (7.1 to 11.0 lb). [7] [8] [9] Large mature males can attain weights of 15 to 17 kg (33 to 37 lb), which would make it slightly smaller than the Nile monitor by maximum size. [10] It is the second longest African lizard after the Nile monitor. Mature specimens typically measure 0.85 to 1.5 meters (2 ft 9 in to 4 ft 11 in). [8] [10] The head and neck are the same length, and are distinct from each other. [11] The bulbous, convex snout gives an angular, box-like appearance. The forked tongue is pink or bluish, [11] and the body scales are usually a mottled gray-brown with yellowish or white markings. [11] Exceptionally large specimens reach 2 meters (6 ft 7 in) in total length (including tail), with its tail and body being of equal size. [12]

Geographic range and habitat

V. albigularis is found in Central Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo/Zaire), Southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana, Republic of South Africa, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola), East Africa and the African Great Lakes region (Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania), and the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia). [11] V. albigularis is found in a variety of arid habitats, including steppes, grasslands and savanna, and may frequent rock kopje (inselbergs) formations that dot the landscape. They are generally absent from desert interiors, rainforests and thick scrub forests. [11]

Diet

V. albigularis are generalists, feeding opportunistically on a broad variety of prey in the wild, such as other lizards, amphibians, birds, snakes, tortoises, eggs and small mammals. [13] [14] Tortoises make up a significant part of their diet, and are swallowed whole due to the hard shell. Otherwise, this species consumes very little vertebrate prey, eating primarily invertebrates, especially millipedes, beetles, molluscs, orthopterans and scorpions. [15] Millipedes for example form nearly a quarter of their diet; the monitors are apparently resistant to its poisonous secretions. They are not averse to occasionally scavenging the corpses of vertebrate prey, even those as large as vervet monkeys, which are sometimes torn to pieces by "death rolling" like a crocodilian prior to consumption. [16] Live vertebrate prey other than tortoises are usually too fast to catch for these monitors, and therefore form very little of their diet. [17] This contrasts with what is often a diet of mostly vertebrates in captivity, such as rodents, poultry or fish. [18]

Predator

Natural predators of adult rock monitors include martial eagles and leopard. [19] [20]

Intelligence

An intelligent lizard, several specimens of V. albigularis have demonstrated the ability to count as high as six in an experiment conducted by Dr. John Philips at the San Diego Zoo in 1999. [21] Philips offered varying numbers of snails, and the monitors were able to distinguish numbers whenever one was missing. [22] [23]

Folklore

People living with the HIV/AIDS virus in Yumbe District of Uganda have been reported injecting themselves with the blood of rock monitors, which they believe to be a cure for the virus. [24] Many are reportedly discontinuing anti-retroviral therapy to pursue this anecdotal treatment. [24]

As a result, V. albigularis is reported to have become an expensive item in the Ugandan black market, selling for more than 175 US$ each. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monitor lizard</span> Genus of reptiles

Monitor lizards are lizards in the genus Varanus, the only extant genus in the family Varanidae. They are native to Africa, Asia, and Oceania, and one species is also found in the Americas as an invasive species. About 80 species are recognized.

François Marie Daudin was a French zoologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nile monitor</span> Species of lizard

The Nile monitor is a large member of the monitor family (Varanidae) found throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in drier regions, and along the Nile River and its tributaries in East Africa. Additionally, there are modern, invasive populations in North America. The population found in West African forests and savannahs is sometimes recognized as a separate species, the West African Nile monitor. While it is dwarfed by its larger relatives, such as the Komodo dragon, the Asian water monitor or the crocodile monitor, it is still one of the largest lizards in the world, reaching Australia’s perentie in size. Other common names include the African small-grain lizard, as well as iguana and various forms derived from it, such as guana, water leguaan or river leguaan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert monitor</span> Species of lizard

The desert monitor is a species of monitor lizard of the order Squamata found living throughout North Africa and Central and South Asia. The desert monitor is carnivorous, feeding on a wide range of vertebrates and invertebrates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lace monitor</span> Species of lizard

The lace monitor, also known as the tree goanna, is a member of the monitor lizard family native to eastern Australia. A large lizard, it can reach 2 metres (6.6 ft) in total length and 14 kilograms (31 lb) in weight. The lace monitor is considered to be a least-concern species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sand goanna</span> Species of lizard

The sand goanna, also known commonly as Gould's monitor, the racehorse goanna, and the sand monitor, is a species of large Australian monitor lizard in the family Varanidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savannah monitor</span> Species of lizard

The savannah monitor is a medium-sized species of monitor lizard native to Africa. The species is known as Bosc's monitor in Europe, since French scientist Louis Bosc first described the species. It belongs to the subgenus Polydaedalus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangrove monitor</span> Species of lizard

The mangrove monitor, mangrove goanna, or Western Pacific monitor lizard is a member of the monitor lizard family with a large distribution from northern Australia and New Guinea to the Moluccas and Solomon Islands. It grows to lengths of 3.5 to 4 ft. It is also known as wbl yb in the Kalam language of Papua New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spiny-tailed monitor</span> Species of lizard

The spiny-tailed monitor, also known as the Australian spiny-tailed monitor, the ridge-tailed monitor the Ackie dwarf monitor, and colloquially simply ackie monitor, is an Australian species of lizard belonging to the genus of monitor lizards (Varanus).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-throated monitor</span> Subspecies of lizard

The white-throated monitor is a lizard found in southern Africa. They are usually gray-brown with yellowish or white markings, and can reach up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length. They are found in Southern Africa, northwards to Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-throated monitor</span> Subspecies of lizard

The black-throated monitor is a subspecies of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The subspecies is native to Tanzania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mertens' water monitor</span> Species of lizard

Mertens' water monitor, often misspelled Mertin's water monitor, is a species of monitor lizard. The species is endemic to northern Australia, and is a wide-ranging, actively foraging, opportunistic predator of aquatic and riparian habitats. It is named after German herpetologist Robert Mertens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peacock monitor</span> Species of lizard

The peacock monitor, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosenberg's monitor</span> Species of lizard

The Rosenberg's monitor is an Australian species of varanid reptile found in southern regions of the continent. They are large and fast predators with rugged bodies and long tails, having a combined length up to 1.5 metres, that will consume any smaller animal that is pursued and captured or found while foraging. They occur in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, where it may be rare or locally common, and more frequently observed in Western Australia, where it is sometimes abundant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-tailed monitor</span> Species of lizard

The blue-tailed monitor, blue-tailed tree monitor or Kalabeck's monitor, is a monitor lizard of the Varanidae family. It belongs to the V. doreanus group of the subgenus Euprepiosaurus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumeril's monitor</span> Species of lizard

Dumeril's monitor is a species of lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings' monitor</span> Species of lizard

Kings' monitor, also known commonly as Kings' goanna, Kings' rock monitor and pygmy rock monitor, is a small species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is native to Australia.

Philippinosaurus is one of the 11 subgenera of the genus Varanus. The group consists of three frugivorous species endemic to the Philippines.

References

  1. ↑ Beraduccii, J.; Msuya, C.A.; Howell, K.; Ngalason, W. (2021). "Varanus albigularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T22473612A22473630. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T22473612A22473630.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Daudin, FM (1802). "Histoire Naturelle, Génerale et Particulière des Reptiles; Ouvrage faisant suite à l'Histoire Naturelle, générale et particulière, composée par LECLERC DE BUFFON, et redigée par C. S. SONNINI, membre de plusieurs Sociétés savantes". F. Dufart (in French). Tome Troisième. Paris: 72-75 + Plate XXXII.
  3. ↑ "Varanus albigularis ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 22 August 2008.
  4. 1 2 "Varanus albigularis ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  5. ↑ Laurent, RF (1964). "A new subspecies of Varanus exanthematicus (Sauria, Varanidae)". Breviora. 199: 1–5..
  6. ↑ Böhme, W. [in German] (1991). "New finding on the hemipenal morphology of monitor lizards and their systematic implications". Mertensiella. 2: 42–49.
  7. ↑ "White Throated Monitor – Varanus albigularis ". Reptiliana: Ultimate Reptile Resource. March 2008. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  8. 1 2 "African Savannah Monitor – Varanus exanthematicus albigularis ". WAZA : World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  9. ↑ Gardner BR, Barrows MG (2010). "Yolk coelomitis in a white-throated monitor lizard (Varanus albigularis)". Journal of the South African Veterinary Association81 (2): 121-122.
  10. 1 2 "Varanus albigularis ". Monitor-Lizards.net. Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Alexander, Graham; Marais, Johan (2008). A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa. South Africa: Struik Publishers. 408 pp. ISBN   978-1-77007-386-9.
  12. ↑ Carruthers, Vincent (June 5, 2008). The Wildlife of Southern Africa: The Larger Illustrated Guide to the Animals and Plants of the Region. South Africa: Struik Publishers. 320 pp. ISBN   978-1-77007-199-5.
  13. ↑ Werner Conradie (December 2012). "VARANIDAE Varanus albigularis (Daudin, 1802) Rock Monitor DIET". African Herp News : Newsletter of the Herpetological Association of Africa– via ResearchGate.
  14. ↑ "Varanus Albigularis".
  15. ↑ "Varanus albigularis".
  16. ↑ Krebs, Uwe (January 2019). "Observations and Experiments on "Spinning Behavior" in Varanus albigularis". Biawak. 13 (1): 54–61.
  17. ↑ Dalhuijsen, Kim (10 December 2013). "A comparative analysis of the diets of Varanus albigularis and Varanus niloticus in South Africa". African Zoology. 49 (1): 84–93.
  18. ↑ "Black-Throated Monitor 101: Care, Size, Diet & More!". 26 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "Eagle Rips Lizard's Eyes Apart As it Tries to Escape". Kruger sighting. September 15, 2020.
  20. ↑ Radloff, Frans GT and Johan T. Du Toit (2004). "Large predators and their prey in a southern African savanna: a predator's size determines its prey size range". Journal of Animal Ecology. 73 (3): 410–423.
  21. ↑ Pianka, Eric R.; Vitt, Laurie J. (2003). Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity . Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press. 346 pp. ISBN   978-0-520-23401-7.
  22. ↑ King, Dennis; Green, Brian (1999). Goannas: The Biology of Varanid Lizards. University of New South Wales Press. p. 43. ISBN   0-86840-456-X.
  23. ↑ The Weekend Australian. July 24–25, 1999, p. 12.
  24. 1 2 3 "Ugandans turn to varanid lizard blood for AIDS cure" (PDF). BIAWAK. 2 (1). INTERNATIONAL VARANID INTEREST GROUP. February 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-27.

Further reading

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