The peacock monitor (''Varanus auffenbergi)'', also known
commonly as Auffenberg's monitor, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of small
monitor lizard in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Varanidae
The Varanidae are a family of lizards in the superfamily Varanoidea within the Anguimorpha group. The family, a group of carnivorous and frugivorous lizards, includes the living genus '' Varanus'' and a number of extinct genera more closely rel ...
. The species, which belongs to the
subgenus ''Odatria'', is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...
to
Rote Island
Rote Island ( id, Pulau Rote, also spelled ''Roti'') is an island of Indonesia, part of the East Nusa Tenggara province of the Lesser Sunda Islands. According to legend, this island got its name accidentally when a lost Portuguese sailor arrive ...
,
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
.
[ (Retrieved Feb. 10, 2010.)]
Etymology
The
generic
Generic or generics may refer to:
In business
* Generic term, a common name used for a range or class of similar things not protected by trademark
* Generic brand, a brand for a product that does not have an associated brand or trademark, other ...
name ''Varanus'' is derived from the Arabic (language), Arabic word ''waral'' ورل, (alternative spelling ''waran''= "lizard"). The name comes from a common semitic root ''ouran'', ''waran'', or ''waral'', meaning "lizard".
The occasional habit of varanids to stand on their two hind legs and to appear to "monitor" their surroundings may have led to this name, as it was Latinized into ''Varanus''. The Specific name (zoology), specific name ''auffenbergi'' honors US herpetologist Walter Auffenberg.
Description
The peacock monitor is one of the smaller monitor lizards, usually reaching a length of 60 cm (23.5 in).
It is similar to the Timor monitor (''V. timorensis''), with some differentiation in the underside coloring and patterns. The coloring patterns fade as these lizards reach adulthood. The peacock monitor has blue-grey ocelli, whereas the Timor monitor has cream-colored ocelli.
Behavior
In the wild, peacock monitors have been seen climbing the trunks of palm tree, palms and then basking on the crowns of the trees.
[Raul Del Canto, Del Canto R (2007). "Notes on the occurrence of ''Varanus auffenbergi'' on Roti Island". ''Biawak Quarterly Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry'' 1 (1): 24–25.] The peacock monitor is calm and shy compared to other monitor lizards, remaining shy even in Captivity (animal), captivity.
References
External links and further reading
*Robert George Sprackland, Sprackland RG (1999). "New species of monitor (Squamata: Varanidae) from Indonesia". ''Reptile Hobbyist'' 4 (6): 20–27. (''Varanus auffenbergi'', new species).
JCVI.org(Downloaded Feb. 10, 2010.)
(Downloaded Feb. 10, 2010.)
ITIS.gov(Downloaded Feb.11, 2010)
Museumstuff.com(Downloaded Feb.11, 2010)
* Wesiak K (2008). "''Unterbringung, Pflege und Nachzucht von ''Varanus (Odatria) auffenbergi'' SPRACKLAND 1999'' [=Housing, care and breeding of ''Varanus (Odatria) auffenbergi'' SPRACKLAND 1999]". ''Elaphe'' 16 (1): 37–47. (in German).
* Green, Brian; King, Dennis (1999). ''Monitors : The Biology of Varanid Lizards, 2nd ed.'' Malabar: Krieger Publishing Company.
*King, Ruth Allen; Pianka, Eric R.; King, Dennis (2004). ''Varanoid Lizards of the World''. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. pp. 225–229. .
*King, Dennis & Green, Brian. (1999). ''Goannas: The Biology of Varanid Lizards''. University of New South Wales Press.
Behavior video on YouTube
Reptiles of Indonesia
Reptiles described in 1999
Varanus
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