| Blue Spotted Tree Monitor | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Family: | Varanidae |
| Genus: | Varanus |
| Subgenus: | Euprepiosaurus |
| Species: | V. macraei |
| Binomial name | |
| Varanus macraei (BÖHME & JACOBS 2001) |
|
The Blue Spotted Tree Monitor, Varanus macraei, is a species of Monitor lizard found on the island of Batanta in Indonesia. It is named after Duncan MacRae, founder of the reptile park “Rimba” on Bali. [1]
Varanus macraei is black with scattered blue scales, forming spots that may in turn form bands across the back. The tip of the snout is light blue and the lower jaw, white. The underside of the legs is uniformly pale turquoise.
The tail is prehensile and about twice the snout-to-vent length (SVL).
V. macraei can grow to an SVL of 35 centimetres (14 in) and total length of 100 centimetres (39 in).[2]
Distribution of V. macraei is limited to the island of Batanta, off the northwest coast of Irian Jaya.