Storr's monitor (''Varanus storri'') 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 ...

monitor lizard Monitor lizards are lizards in the genus ''Varanus,'' the only extant genus in the family Varanidae. They are native to Africa, Asia, and Oceania, and one species is also found in the Americas as an invasive species. About 80 species are recogn ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

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 relat ...

. 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 elsew ...

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 ...

Etymology

The specific name, ''storri'', is in honor of Australian herpetologist

Glen Milton Storr Dr. Glen Milton Storr (22 December 1921 – 26 June 1990) was an Australian ornithologist and Herpetology, herpetologist. He joined the Western Australian Museum in 1962 and became Curator of Ornithology and Herpetology in 1965. He was a member ...

Geographic range and habitat

''Varanus storri'' is found in the seasonal tropical regions of Australia, specifically in rocky environments.James, Craig D.; Losos, Jonathan B.; King, Dennis R. (1992). "Reproductive Biology and Diets of Goannas (Reptilia: Varanidae) from Australia". ''Journal of Herpetology'' 26: 128–136. ''V. storri storri'' is found in eastern Australia, from Charters Tower to the Queensland, whereas ''V. storri ocreatus'' is predominantly located in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Thus, both subspecies are found in the same climate and alike

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.Christian KA, Bedford GS, Shannahan ST (1996). "Solar Absorptance of Some Australian Lizards and Its Relationship to Temperature". ''Australian Journal of Zoology'' 44: 59–67. They can be found in open woodland, grasslands, spinifex, and rocky areas.

Description

The species ''V. storri'' is smaller and duller colored than the similar looking

spiny-tailed monitor 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 g ...

(''V. acanthurus''). ''V. storri'' grows up to just over in total length. ''V. s. ocreatus'' has a longer tail and limbs than ''V. s. storri''; the former's tail is 1.6 times longer than its snout to vent length while the latter has a tail that is only 1.4 times longer. ''V. s. ocreatus'' also has enlarged scales on the bottom of the end of its hindlegs. The species does not display sexual dimorphism, and even the cluster of spiny scales on either sides of the male's vent in many other ''Odatria'' species is present in both sexes of Storr's monitor.

Behavior

The species ''V. storri'' is terrestrial, and is even less arboreal than the related spiny-tailed monitor. The species lives in colonies in the wild, and as many as 50 animals may live together in a 0.75 km² area, although each individual inhabits its own U-shaped burrow under a large rock or spinifex. Individuals sometimes wave their tails at each other. ''V. storri'' is most active between February and March, and between July and November, during mornings and late afternoons, retreating to its burrow during the hottest time of the day; unlike larger monitors, it remains active during cooler parts of the day with exception of the cold winter months. Although previously reported to change color with increasing temperature, Sprackland RG (1980). "Some notes on Storr's dwarf spiny-tailed monitor". ''Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter'' 40: 7–9. the subspecies of ''V. storri'' were found to neither change color nor absorb solar radiation between 15–35 °C (59–95 °F) in later studies.

Reproduction

In ''V. storri'' sexual maturity is attained by the time it is long in snout-to-vent length (SVL). Enlarged testes chiefly occur in November, the late dry and early wet season, but do occur throughout the year. Similarly, breeding takes place throughout the year as well. Up to 6 eggs are laid, which are incubated at 27–29 °C (81–84 °F) for 100–129 days. Sexual maturity can be attained 18 months later.

Diet

''Varanus storri'' preys on

invertebrates Invertebrates are a paraphyletic group of animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''backbone'' or ''spine''), derived from the notochord. This is a grouping including all animals apart from the chordate ...

especially

orthoptera Orthoptera () is an order of insects that comprises the grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets, including closely related insects, such as the bush crickets or katydids and wētā. The order is subdivided into two suborders: Caelifera – grassho ...

ns, but also ants, beetles and spiders. It also feeds on lizards such as skinks and geckos. Its diet is seasonal, and large fat reserves are built up through most of the year in order to last through the winter months when it becomes inactive.

Etymology

Geographic range and habitat

Description

Behavior

Reproduction

Diet

References

External links

Further reading