Rennell Island monitor

Rennell Island monitor
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: V. (Euprepiosaurus)
Species: V. juxtindicus
Binomial name
Varanus juxtindicus
Böhme, Philipp & Ziegler, 2002[1]

The Rennell Island monitor (Varanus juxtindicus)[2] is a species of monitor lizards found in the Solomon Islands archipelago. It is also known as the Hakoi Monitor.[3] It belongs to the subgenus Euprepiosaurus along with the canopy goanna, the peach-throated monitor, Kalabeck's monitor, and others.[4]

Distribution

This species is endemic to Rennell Island, one of the smaller of the Solomon Islands. It is especially found near Niupani.[1]

Description

The Rennell Island monitor can reach a length of up to 150 cm from snout to tail. The pattern and coloration on its back is very similar to V. indicus, but this species is distinguished from the other members of the subgenus Euprepiosaurus by the lack of the blue coloration (see Varanus yuwonoi and Varanus doreanus). Its tail shows no bands, nor is there a visible band on the side of the head. The throat of V. juxtindicus lacks a noticeable pattern. Its tongue only has pigment at the tip. The first third of its tail is round in diameter, without any keel. "[4]

References

Further reading

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