Varanus albigularis albigularis

Taxobox
name = White-throated monitor

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image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Scleroglossa
familia = Varanidae
genus = "Varanus"
species = "V. albigularis"
subspecies = "V. albigularis albigularis"
binomial = "Varanus albigularis albigularis"
binomial_authority = Daudin, 1802Daudin, F. M. (1802). "Histoire Naturelle, génerale et particulièredes reptiles, ouvrage faisant suite, a l'histoiure naturelle, générale et particulière composée par LECLERC DE BUFFON, et redigée par C. S. SONNINI", vol. 3. F. Dufart, Paris.]

The White-throated monitor ("Varanus albigularis albigularis") is a lizard found in southern Africa. They are usually gray-brown with yellowish or white markings and can reach up to 2 meters in length.

It is found in Southern Africa, northwards to Angola, Zambia and Mozambique.

Taxonomy

First described by François Marie Daudin in 1802, these lizards were previously classed as a subspecies of "Varanus exanthematicus", but have since been declared a distinct species based upon differences in hemipenal morphology. [Bohme, W. (1991). "New finding on the hemipenal morphology of monitor lizards and their systematic implications". Mertensiella, 2, 42-49.] The generic name "Varanus" is derived from the Arabic word "waral" ورل, which is translated to English as "monitor". Their specific name comes from a compound of two Latin words: "albus" meaning "white" and "gula" meaning "throat".

References

External links

* [http://www.oaklandzoo.org/meet_the_animals/white-throated-monitor White-throated monitor] , Oakland Zoo
* [http://www.honoluluzoo.org/monitor_lizard_white_throated.htm White-throated Monitor Lizards] , Honolulu Zoo