REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: VARANIDAE: Varanus

Varanus indicus* (Daudin, 1802)

Mangrove monitor

Photos & text by Dr. Robert Sprackland.

Range: Ambon and Ceram Islands (Indonesia) east through Papua New Guinea, northern coastal Northern Territory and Queensland (Australia) and the Solomon Islands. Restricted to mangrove, swampy habitats, or near permanent inland lakes.

Diagnosis: Readily distinguished from similar species in having a dark purple tongue, light postocular stripe (often made of distinct light spots), light coloration on the top of the head, and a solid cream to yellow belly lacking dark markings.

Description:

Natural History: This is a highly aquatic monitor, rarely found far from permanent water. Though named "mangrove" monitors, they are not restricted to salty coastal mangroves, but are found well inland along rivers, near lakes, and in swampland. The adult shown below measures about 1.3 meters/ 4 feet total length, and is basking on a tree root along the Fly River, about 4 miles east of Kiunga, Western Province, Papua New Guinea. The lizards are alert and do not allow close approach before diving into the water and swimming away submerged.

Reproduction: An adult pair was observed in copulation on a tree branch some 3 meters above the water on the Fly River, about 8 miles east of Kiunga, Western Province, Papua New Guinea, on 25 June 2000. As common and widely distributed as these lizards are, I am unaware of another observation of wild reproduction. Mangrove monitors lay 2-12 eggs that measure about 3.5 to 5 cm in length. The oblong eggs are white, and hatch in about 7-8 months.

Taxonomy & Relationships:

Variation:  

A "pet" mangrove monitor whose active and expert swimming
abilities earned him the name "Evinrude." This specimen was
collected in Irian Jaya in 1977.

Additional Comments: Click here for photos of mangrove monitor skull and other photos of live lizards.

Type Specimen: The holotype has apparently been lost from the museum in Paris. Daudin published an illustration (below) with his description of the species in 1802 but there are still questions about the specific status of the mangrove monitor. Daudin's specimen was a subadult specimen collected in Ambon, Indonesia.

 Literature: Click on a book to order a copy

Bennett, Daniel. 1998. Monitor lizards: Natural history, biology & husbandry. Edition Chimaira. ISBN: 3-930612-10-0.

Böhme, Wolfgang, Hans-Georg Horn & Thomas Ziegler. 1994. Zur taxonomie der Pazifikwarane (Varanus indicus-Komplex): Revalidierung von Varanus doreanus (A.B. Meyer, 1874) mit Beschreibung einer neuen Unterart. Salamandra 30(2): 119-142.

Cogger, Harold. 1995. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. 5th edition. Ralph Curtis Books. ISBN: 0-8014-2739-8.

Cogger, Harold. 1984. Australian reptiles in colour. Revisede edition. Reed Books. ISBN: 0-7301-0043-X. 

Ehmann, Harald. 1992. Encyclopedia of Australian animals: Reptiles. Angus & Robertson. ISBN: 0-207-17379-6.

Eidenmüller, Bernd. 1997. Warane: Lebensweise, Pflege, Zucht. Herpeton, Offenbach. In German. ISBN: 3-9802892-7-3. 

Greer, Allen. 1989. The biology & evolution of Australian lizards. Surrey Beatty & Sons. ISBN: 0-949324-21-3.

Hoser, Raymond. 1989. Australian reptiles & frogs. Pierson & Co. ISBN: 0-947068-08-2.

King, Dennis and Brian Green. 1999. Monitors: the biology of varanid lizards. 2nd edition. Krieger Publishing. ISBN: 1-57524-112-9.

Sprackland, Robert. 1997. Mangrove monitor lizards. Reptiles March: 48-63.

Sprackland, Robert. 1995. Evolution, systematics, and variation in Pacific mangrove monitor lizards. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University College London.