Sago monitor

(Redirected from Varanus obor)

The sago monitor or torch monitor (Varanus obor) is a species of monitor lizards endemic to the Indonesian island of Sanana.

Sago monitor
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: Euprepiosaurus
Species:
V. obor
Binomial name
Varanus obor
Weijola and Sweet 2010

Description

edit

Varanus obor is the only melanistic member of the Pacific monitor (V. indicus) group, and the only species belonging to the subgenus Euprepiosaurus, which has prominent red-orange markings on its body. Proportions of the body and the construction of scales most closely resemble V. melinus, which can be found on the islands of Mangole and Taliabu. Most often, V. obor occurs in coastal sago palm swamps - a habitat that is underused by other species of the V. indicus group, but is also frequently encountered in riparian habitats and rainforests.[2] It can reach lengths of 0.8 to 1.5 m in length and weigh between 0.5 and 1.5 kg. The lizard was named obor (meaning "torch" in Indonesian) due to its unique coloration.[3]

The sago monitor was first seen in the wild by Valter Weijola, who in March and April 2009 visited Sanana. One preserved specimen (the holotype), apparently collected between 1860 and 1866, is housed in Naturalis (formerly Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, later Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum), Leiden, the Netherlands.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ Stubbs, A.; Shea, G.; Arida, E. (2021). "Varanus obor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T83778314A83778316. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Weijola, Valter S-Å and Sweet, Samuel S: A new melanistic species of monitor lizard (Reptilia: Squamata: Varanidae) from Sanana Island, Indonesia, page 17-32. Zootaxa, No. 2434, 2010.
  3. ^ Österblad, R: Vasastuderande upptäckte ny ödleart, Österbottens Tidning, 23.4.2010.