| Pygmy Desert Goanna | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Family: | Varanidae |
| Genus: | Varanus |
| Subgenus: | V. (Odatria) |
| Species: | V. eremius |
| Binomial name | |
| Varanus eremius Lucas & Frost, 1895[1] |
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The pygmy desert monitor (Varanus eremius)[2] is a species of small monitor lizard native to Australia. It is also known as the rusty desert monitor.[3] The monitor lizard belongs to the subgenus Odatria along with the Pygmy Mulga Monitor.[1][4] This monitor lizard is oviparous as with other monitor lizards.[5]
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Varanus eremius is the most widespread of the pygmy goannas. It lives in desert and semi-desert areas of South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is possible that its range includes Queensland as well.;[6][7] Storr & Harold 1980).
The pygmy desert monitor reaches a total length of about 50 cm.[1] The coloration of this monitor lizard on the upper side is light to dark reddish brown with numreous, irregularly distributed, black or deep brown spots. Sometimes there are smaller primrose or cream-colored spots present. The tail of the Pygmy Desert Monitor shows alternating cream-colored and deep brown longitudinal stripes, which are often broken up into scattered spots at the tail base. A conspicuous black stripe goes from the snout to the eye.[1]
Varanus eremius spends its life on the ground and seldom climbs trees. Up to now no successful breeding in captivity has been reported.[1]
Stomach contents indicate that the diet by volume of the pygmy desert monitor consists mainly of other lizards (76%). The remainder of animals eaten by this monitor include: large grasshoppers plus an occasional scorpion.[8]
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