Currently, the peacock monitor (Varanus auffenbergi) is sometimes considered a subspecies, but is usually considered its own species.[2]
Descriptionedit
The Timor monitor is a dwarf species of monitor lizard belonging to the subgenus Odatria. Generally, it is dark greenish-gray to almost black in background color, with bright gold-yellow or sometimes bluish spotting along its dorsal surface and a lighter straw-yellow color on its ventral side. It has a pointed snout, excellent eyesight and hearing, sharp teeth, and a prehensile tail that measures two-thirds of its total length. V. timorensis also has long, sharp claws well-suited for climbing and defense. The species grows to a maximum of 61 cm, and weighs between 100 and 350 g.
Habitatedit
Varanus timorensis live in hollowed trees and branches, the spotted coloration helps them camouflage into the surrounding habitats.
Behavioredit
Timor monitors are arboreal, diurnal lizards. Their diet consist of a variety of invertebrates, such as scorpions, orthopterans, spiders, mantids, bees and cockroaches, and other lizards, such as geckos, as well as small snakes.[4] Breeding takes place from December to March, and clutches of up to 11 eggs are laid; the eggs incubate three to four months, depending on the average temperature. Hatchlings are about 5 in long, but grow quickly.
Geographic distributionedit
The Timor monitor is found in Indonesia, specifically the islands of Timor, Savu, and Rote, and in East Timor.
In captivityedit
Frequently bred in captivity, this monitor is also still imported in small numbers for the exotic pet trade. Wild-caught specimens can be nervous and difficult to handle, but captive-raised animals are much less shy.[citation needed]
Referencesedit
^Arida, E.; Reilly, S. (2021). "Varanus timorensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T83778959A101752375. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ abcAuliya, Marc & Koch, André (2020). Visual Identification Guide for the Monitor Lizard Species of the World (Genus Varanus). Bonn, Germany: Bundesamt für Naturschutz. doi:10.19217/skr552. ISBN978-3-89624-290-7.
^Varanus timorensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 27 April 2021.
King, Dennis & Green, Brian. 1999. Goannas: The Biology of Varanid Lizards. University of New South Wales Press. ISBN0-86840-456-X
April 14, 2024
varanus, timorensis, timor, monitor, spotted, tree, monitor, species, small, monitor, lizards, native, island, timor, some, adjacent, islands, least, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, reptiliaorde. Varanus timorensis the Timor monitor 2 or spotted tree monitor 3 is a species of small monitor lizards native to the island of Timor and some adjacent islands 2 Varanus timorensisLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily VaranidaeGenus VaranusSubgenus OdatriaSpecies V timorensisBinomial nameVaranus timorensis Gray 1831 SynonymsMonitor timorensis Gray 1831This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Varanus timorensis news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Habitat 4 Behavior 5 Geographic distribution 6 In captivity 7 ReferencesTaxonomy editKimberley rock monitors Varanus glauerti banded tree monitors Varanus scalaris and spotted tree monitors Varanus similis were once considered subspecies of the Timor monitor but have since been elevated to full species status Currently the peacock monitor Varanus auffenbergi is sometimes considered a subspecies but is usually considered its own species 2 Description editThe Timor monitor is a dwarf species of monitor lizard belonging to the subgenus Odatria Generally it is dark greenish gray to almost black in background color with bright gold yellow or sometimes bluish spotting along its dorsal surface and a lighter straw yellow color on its ventral side It has a pointed snout excellent eyesight and hearing sharp teeth and a prehensile tail that measures two thirds of its total length V timorensis also has long sharp claws well suited for climbing and defense The species grows to a maximum of 61 cm and weighs between 100 and 350 g Habitat editVaranus timorensis live in hollowed trees and branches the spotted coloration helps them camouflage into the surrounding habitats Behavior editTimor monitors are arboreal diurnal lizards Their diet consist of a variety of invertebrates such as scorpions orthopterans spiders mantids bees and cockroaches and other lizards such as geckos as well as small snakes 4 Breeding takes place from December to March and clutches of up to 11 eggs are laid the eggs incubate three to four months depending on the average temperature Hatchlings are about 5 in long but grow quickly Geographic distribution editThe Timor monitor is found in Indonesia specifically the islands of Timor Savu and Rote and in East Timor In captivity editFrequently bred in captivity this monitor is also still imported in small numbers for the exotic pet trade Wild caught specimens can be nervous and difficult to handle but captive raised animals are much less shy citation needed References edit Arida E Reilly S 2021 Varanus timorensis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T83778959A101752375 Retrieved 19 November 2021 a b c Auliya Marc amp Koch Andre 2020 Visual Identification Guide for the Monitor Lizard Species of the World GenusVaranus Bonn Germany Bundesamt fur Naturschutz doi 10 19217 skr552 ISBN 978 3 89624 290 7 Varanus timorensis at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Accessed 27 April 2021 Varanus Timorensis King Dennis amp Green Brian 1999 Goannas The Biology of Varanid Lizards University of New South Wales Press ISBN 0 86840 456 X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Varanus timorensis amp oldid 1177342240, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
