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Pygmy mulga monitor

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Pygmy mulga monitor
Varanus gilleni male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Subphylum:
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Subgenus:
Odatria
Species:
V. gilleni
Binomial name
Varanus gilleni
Synonyms

The pygmy mulga monitor or stripe-tailed goanna (Varanus gilleni ) is a species of monitor lizard native to northwestern and central Australia.[3]

Etymology

The specific name, gilleni, is in honor of Australian anthropologist Francis James Gillen.[4]

Description

In a vivarium

Pygmy mulga monitors are arboreal, with prehensile tails. They grow to a total length of around 35 cm (14 in), 20 cm (7.9 in) of which is tail. The upper surface is brown, grading to grey at the sides. The nostrils are positioned on the sides of the muzzle, about halfway between the tip of the snout and the eye.[3] V. gilleni weigh, on average, 60–80 grams (2.1–2.8 oz).[5]

Diet

V. gilleni eat insects, lizards, small mammals, and eggs.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Zipcodezoo.com Archived 2012-08-20 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Varanus gilleni "". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. ^ a b "Varanus gilleni ". www.monitor-lizards.net.
  4. ^ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Varanus gilleni, p. 101).
  5. ^ Pygmy Mulga monitor - Perth Zoo - Western Australia Archived 2010-01-08 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading

  • Lucas AHS, Frost C. 1895. Preliminary Notice of certain New Species of Lizards from Central Australia. Proc. Royal Soc. Victoria 7: 264-269. (Varanus gilleni, new species, pp. 266-267).