The black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor (''Varanus insulanicus baritji)'', also called commonly the black-spotted spiny-tailed monitor, the lemon-throated monitor, the northern ridge-tailed monitor, Whites monitor, and the yellow-throated monitor, is a

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

lizard Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...

in the family Varanidae. The subspecies is native to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

's tropical Northern Territory. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List as it is considered common and not threatened. It was first described in 1987. It is also known as White's dwarf goanna.Mampam.com
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Etymology

The subspecific name, ''baritji'', is an Australian aboriginal word for white, in honour of Australian biological anthropologist

Neville White Neville may refer to: Places * Neville, New South Wales, Australia * Neville, Saskatchewan, Canada * Néville, in the Seine-Maritime department, France * Néville-sur-Mer, in the Manche department, France * Neville, Ohio, USA *Neville Township, ...

who discovered the species.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011) ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Varanus baritji'', p. 284). www.reptile-database.org.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of ''V. insulanicus baritji'' is rocky areas.

Description

''V. insulanicus baritji'' has a spiny tail, and is similar in appearance to ''

Varanus acanthurus The spiny-tailed monitor (''Varanus acanthurus''), also known as the Australian spiny-tailed monitor, the ridge-tailed monitor the Ackie's dwarf monitor, and colloquially simply ackie monitor, is an Australian species of lizard belonging to the ...

'', but differs in colour pattern. For example, ''V. baritji'' has a bright- yellow underside, but lacks the light and dark dorsal neck stripes and the light ocellated markings on its back for which ''V. acanthurus'' is known. The black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor can reach up to in length.

Reproduction

''V. insulanicus baritji'' is

oviparous Oviparous animals are animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, most reptiles, and all pterosaurs, dinosaurs (including birds), and ...

References

External links

''Varanus baritji'' at Kingsnake.com

*Bennet DF (2003). "''Australische Warane''". ''Reptilia (Münster)'' 8 (5): 18–25. (in German). * Bennett D (1995). ''A Little Book of Monitor Lizards''. London: Viper Press. 220 pp. . * Cogger HG (2014). ''Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition''. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. . * Eidenmüller B (2007). "Small monitors in the terrarium". ''Reptilia (GB)'' (50): 12–19. *Eidenmüller B (2007). "''Kleinwarane im Terrarium'' ". ''Reptilia (Münster)'' 12 (1): 16–23. (in German). * Hörenberg T, Koch A (2013). "''Die Zwergwarane der Untergattung'' Odatria '' Gray, 1838'' ". ''Draco'' 13 (53): 6–19. (in German). *

Wilson S Wilson may refer to: People *Wilson (name) ** List of people with given name Wilson ** List of people with surname Wilson * Wilson (footballer, 1927–1998), Brazilian manager and defender *Wilson (footballer, born 1984), full name Wilson Rodr ...