Varanus yuwonoi
 | This article, Varanus yuwonoi, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
| Black-backed mangrove monitor | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Varanidae |
| Genus: | Varanus |
| Subgenus: | Euprepiosaurus |
| Species: | V. yuwonoi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Varanus yuwonoi Harvey & Barker 1998
| |
The black-backed mangrove monitor or tricolor monitor (Varanus yuwonoi) is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. It belongs to the V. doreanus species complex.[1][2]
Taxonomy
Its specific epithet was named yuwonoi in honor of Frank Bambang Yuwono in 1998.[2]
It is a member of the V. doreanus species complex along with V. doreanus, V. semotus, and V. finschi. [1]
Description
The fully mature size of this species is currently unknown, owing to the great difficulty of observing this species. The largest individual recorded was 1.46 metres long but was not fully grown. [3]
The species is strikingly colourful, with a bright blue tail and a yellow body.
The tongue is also yellow, a shared characteristic of all monitors in the V. doreanus species complex. [4] The tail is heavily compressed and the teeth are proportionately very long compared to most monitors, even those which it is closely related to. [3]
Distribution
Varanus yuwonoi is endemic to Halmahera Island, and is primarily found in its inland rainforest, where it is sympatric with V. caerulivirens, V. rainerguentheri, and possibly V. zugorum. [3]
Diet
Varanus yuwonoi is a carnivore. It frequents nest mounds excavated by megapodes, which attracts smaller birds as well as small reptiles and insects that it may take as prey with its unusually long teeth. It may also consume megapode chicks and is reported to also excavate mounds to eat the eggs inside. This suggests that this species is specialized at ambushing birds. [3]
References
- ^ a b Weijola, Valter; Vahtera, Varpu; Lindqvist, Christer; Kraus, Fred (2019-07-23). "A molecular phylogeny for the Pacific monitor lizards (Varanus subgenus Euprepiosaurus) reveals a recent and rapid radiation with high levels of cryptic diversity". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 186 (4): 1053–1066. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz002. ISSN 0024-4082.
- ^ a b Harvey, Michael B.; Barker, David G. (1998). "A New Species of Blue-Tailed Monitor Lizard (Genus Varanus) from Halmahera Island, Indonesia". Herpetologica. 54 (1): 34–44. ISSN 0018-0831.
- ^ a b c d Weijola, Valter (2010-03-25). "Geographical Distribution and Habitat Use of Monitor Lizards of the North Moluccas". 4: 7–23.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Weijola, Valter; Donnellan, Stephen C.; Lindqvist, Christer (2016-02-23). "A new blue-tailed Monitor lizard (Reptilia, Squamata, Varanus) of the Varanus indicus group from Mussau Island, Papua New Guinea". ZooKeys (568): 129–154. doi:10.3897/zookeys.568.6872. ISSN 1313-2989. PMC 4829673. PMID 27103877.
{{cite journal}}: line feed character in|title=at position 78 (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
1874
References
| This article, Varanus yuwonoi, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |