The Pilbara monitor (''Varanus bushi)'', also known commonly as Bush's monitor, Bush's pygmy monitor, and the Pilbara mulga goanna, 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 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 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 Australia.

Etymology

The specific name, ''bushi'', is in honor of Australian naturalist and

herpetologist Herpetology (from Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians ( gymnophiona)) and rep ...

Brian Gordon Bush (born 1947).

Taxonomy

''V. bushi'' belongs to the subgenus ''Odatria''.

Description

''V. bushi'' is most similar to the stripe-tailed goanna (''V. caudolineatus'') and the pygmy mulga goanna (''V. gilleni)'' of all monitor lizards. However, the Pilbara monitor can be distinguished from these other two species by some morphological and genetic differences.

Geographic range

The Pilbara monitor inhabits the

Pilbara The Pilbara () is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a g ...

region of

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

Habitat

The preferred natural

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s of ''V. bushi'' are desert and

savanna A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland- grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to ...

Behaviour

Details about the behaviour of ''V. bushi'' are relatively unknown. However, it is known to be

arboreal Arboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some animals may scale trees only occasionally, but others are exclusively arboreal. The habitats pose nu ...

and to shelter in bark crevices, in hollow trees, and under fallen logs.

Reproduction

''V. bushi'' is oviparous."''Varanus bushi'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

References

External links

Photo at AROD.com.au
(Retrieved 12 February 2010).
Range map at Australianreptileguide.com
(Retrieved 12 August 2010).
"''Varanus bushi'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile database.org.
(Retrieved 13 February 2010). Varanus Reptiles of Western Australia Reptiles described in 2006 Monitor lizards of Australia {{Lizard-stub