Black-throated monitor

Black-throated monitor
Black-throated monitor
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Scleroglossa
Family:	Varanidae
Genus:	Varanus
Species:	V. albigularis
Subspecies:	V. albigularis ionidesi
Binomial name
Varanus albigularis ionidesi

The black-throated monitor (Varanus albigularis ionidesi) is a monitor lizard native to Tanzania. It is usually a dark gray-brown with yellowish or white markings, and can reach up to seven feet (2 m) in length and weigh more than 60 pounds. It is the largest of the four subspecies of Varanus albigularis.^[1]

Taxonomy

The generic name Varanus is derived from the Arabic word waral ورل, which is translated to English as "warn" or "warning." Their specific name comes from a compound of two Latin words: albus meaning "white" and gula meaning "throat".

Diet

Their main foods in captivity are whole prey, such as mice, rats, snakes, lizards, freshwater mollusks, small birds, large roaches, crustacians, fish, and eggs. Though these animals commonly accept cat and dog food, it is not acceptable as a staple diet due to an improper nutrient profile and high caloric content. In the wild, these monitors will eat anything they can catch.^[1]

References