Peach-throated monitor
Sepik monitor lizard at the Leipzig Zoo
The Sepik monitor lizard ( Varanus jobiensis ) is a little explored lizard from New Guinea. He inhabits the lowland rainforest on the island and feeds primarily on insects.
Features
The Sepik monitor lizard is a medium sized, rather slender lizard, with a striking square head, big eyes and a long neck. The laterally flattened, not cross compatible tail has the Sepik monitor lizard from within the subgenus Euprepiosaurus a member of the Varanus indicus group. The species attains a maximum length of about 1.2 m, the tail is 1.48 to 1.83 times as long as head and body together.
The body top is dark olive to black, with numerous small, bright spots. They are arranged more or less clearly than transverse bands. The tail is blue-turquoise banded. The top of the head is slate gray, often tinged slightly blue; it lacks any subscription. The tongue is pink. The underparts are whitish, except for the striking pink, reddish or orange lined throat. The legs are dark olive, and light blue to green speckled. These mottles occur in the hind legs from intense. The drawing of the young animals is more intense than that of adult animals, and the dot - bands on the back are farther apart.
Compared with related species of the Sepik - Waran has very small scales. It has 164-201 scale rows around midbody, between occiput and hind legs are 163-196 scale rows.
Distribution and habitat
The Sepik lizard inhabits New Guinea and the islands Japen, Biak, Salawati and Weigeo. Leave the previous evidence of this kind suggest that the Sepik lizard is common in many parts of the New Guinea lowlands; it was found down to 900 m above sea level. It inhabits rain and riverine forest, and preferred areas with dense vegetation; Mangrove forests are avoided.
Way of life
Like all dragons, the Sepik - Waran a diurnal loner. He is usually on the ground running, and flees any problems on trees. Often, the type is observed as they clawed tree trunks their bright colored throat inflates and lifts his head. Im pretty plain lowland rain forest, this could be a means of intra - or inter-species communication. Due to the uniform climate the way the year is overactive.
In West New Guinea Sepik dragons were often observed as she expired almost parched stream banks, slaying easy -to-catch small fish or crabs. In examining the stomach contents of preserved museum specimens, 6 on the other hand made insects such as cockroaches, locusts, Hemiptera, beetles, bees and butterflies out nearly three-quarters of prey objects. In addition, tarantulas, frogs and reptiles eggs were identified as stomach contents. Captive Sepik dragons take on insects, chickens, mice, frogs, small lizards and fish.
For reproduction in nature is not known. In captivity, the offspring succeeded several times.
System
The first description was in 1932 by the German zoologist Ernst Ahl ( 1898-1943 ). Ahl described the species as Varanus indicus jobiensis, so as a subspecies of Pazifikwarans. In his classic monograph of the monitor lizards from 1942 German herpetologist Robert Mertens explained ( 1894-1975 ) the subspecies jobiensis as invalid and the nominate V. i indicus same. 1991 again proved the German zoologist Wolfgang Böhme, the Sepik - Waran is a distinct species. The name V. karlschmidti is a synonym of V. jobiensis; this species was described in 1951 by Mertens based on a specimen copy, which is actually a V. jobiensis. The older name jobiensis a priority. According to analyzes of mitochondrial DNA and the Hemipenismorphologie Varanus is jobiensis the subgenus Euprepiosaurus assigned within Varanus; there he is part of the Varanus indicus group.
Endangering
Of the natives the species is hunted with snares and eaten occasionally prey on professional hunters also live specimens for the international pet trade. The CITES authorities approved 1975-2005 the export of 5538 live specimens for this purpose. The real figure could be higher in the future, the clearing of the rain forest could endanger the species. Currently, the type is classified as not at risk, because the pressure from hunting remains limited, and protective measures still seem unnecessary.
Swell
- KM Philip, T. Ziegler & Böhme W. (2004): Varanus jobiensis. In: ER Pianka & DR King ( ed.): Varanoid Lizards of the World, pp. 189-192. Indiana University Press, Bloomington & Indianapolis, ISBN 0253343666