Black-palmed rock monitor

Black-palmed rock monitor
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: V. (Odatria)
Species: V. glebopalma
Binomial name
Varanus glebopalma
(Mitchell, 1955) [1][2]

The black-palmed rock monitor (Varanus glebopalma)[3] is a member of the Varanidae family found in Australia. Also known as the twilight monitor or the long-tailed rock monitor,[4] it is a member of the subgenus Odatria,[5] and is found in the northern part of Australia in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, as well as Queensland. Specifically, its distribution extends from Mount Isa in the east to the Kimberleys in the west.[6] Its habitat is areas of rock escarpment, and large populations may be found in small areas.[7]

Diet

In the wild, black-palmed rock monitors prefer to eat insects, lizards, and other small vertebrates.[8]

Description

The black-palmed rock monitor reaches a total length of just over 100 cm.[9] The coloration of V. glebopalma on the back shows a black ground color with some light brown scales. These form a "reticulated pattern at the sides or small ocelli with a black central spot on top." The top sides of the head and the limbs are black with small, light brown or cream-colored spots which "flow together".[10] Their limbs have larger spots. The scientific name of this species, glebopalma, refers to the shiny black pads found on the undersides of their feet.[11]

References

  1. JCVI.org
  2. Kingsnake.com
  3. EOL.org
  4. Biolib.cz
  5. Monitor-lizards.de
  6. Monitor-lizards.de JCVI.org
  7. Mampam.com
  8. Losos, J.B. & Greene, H.W. (1988). Ecological and evolutionary implications of diet in monitor lizards. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 35:379-407.
  9. Storr G.M. (1980). The monitor lizards (genus Varanus Merrem, 1820) of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 8(2) 1980: 237-293.
  10. Monitor-lizards.net
  11. Mampam.com

Further reading

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