Dumeril's monitor

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Dumeril's monitor (Varanus dumerilii ) is a species of lizard, endemic to Southeast Asia. It is a member of the family Varanidae.

Video Dumeril's monitor

Etymology

The specific name, dumerilii, is a Latinized form of the name of the scientist who first described this species, French herpetologist André Marie Constant Duméril.

The common name in Thailand, called túdt?? (???????), is an animal that appeared in the children's folk songs.

Maps Dumeril's monitor

Geographic range

Dumeril's monitor is found in southern Burma and north of the Isthmus of Kra to Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand, as well as in Peninsular Malaysia, throughout Borneo, Sumatra, Riau, Bangka-Belitung and other smaller islands of Indonesia.

Their habitat is dense evergreen forests with high humidity and mangrove swamps.

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Diet

This monitor is a crab specialist; however, it has been observed eating snails, insects, molluscs, fish, frogs, and smaller rodents. Little is known overall about this species compared to other monitor lizards.

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Description

Adult Dumeril's monitors are largely dark coffee-brown in colour, with occasional brighter indistinct crossbars. For juveniles the colors and patterns are quite different. "The major color is a dark varnish black which is interrupted by several yellow crossways bars on the back." Juveniles have shiny orange red or, sometimes yellow heads. This youth coloration disappears after only 4-8 weeks. Adult Dumeril's can reach up to 4.5 ft (1.4 m) in total length (including tail) although typical length is 4 ft (1.2 m) long.

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Subspecies

There are two described subspecies:

• Varanus dumerilii dumerilii (Schlegel, 1839)
• Varanus dumerilii heteropholis Boulenger, 1892

Note: Sprackland made V. d. heteropholis a synonym of V. d. dumerilii

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References

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Further reading

• Photo of Dumeril's Monitor at Whozoo.org
• Amer, Sayed A. M., and Yoshinori Kumazawa. (2008). Timing of a mtDNA gene rearrangement and intercontinental dispersal of varanid lizards. Genes Genet. Syst. 83: 275-280.
• Auffenberg, W. (1988). Gray's monitor lizard. University of Florida, Gainesville.
• Ávalos, J. de, & Martínez Carrión, P. (1997). Warane Reptilia (Münster) 2 (5): 16-21.
• Barbour, T. (1921). Aquatic skinks and arboreal monitors. Copeia 1921 (1):42-44.
• Boulenger, G.A. (1885). Catalogue of lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. ... Varanidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I-XXIV. (Varanus dumerilii, pp. 312-313).
• Brandenberg, T. (1983). Monitors in the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Leiden: E.J. Brill. 121 pp.
• Coburn, J. (1987). Snakes and lizards. Their care and breeding in captivity, David and Charles, Newton Abbott.
• Cota, M.; Chan-ard, T.; Mekchai, S. & Laoteaw, S. (2008). Geographical Distribution, Instinctive Feeding Behavior and Report of Nocturnal Activity of Varanus dumerilii in Thailand. Biawak 2 (4): 152-158.
• Cox, Merel J.; Van Dijk, Peter Paul; Jarujin Nabhitabhata & Thirakhupt, Kumthorn (1998). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Ralph Curtis Publishing, 144 pp.
• Davis, R., Darling, R., & Darlington, A. (1986) Ritualised combat in captive V. dumerilii. Herpet. Rev. 17 (4): 85-86.
• Davis, R.B., & Phillips, L.G. (1991). A method of sexing Dumeril's monitor Varanus dumerili. Herp. Review 22 (1): 18-19.
• Harrison, J.L., & Boo-Liat, L. (1957). Monitors of Malaya. Malay. Nat. J. 12 (1): 1-10.
• Horn, H.G., & Schulz, B. (1977). "Varanus dumerilii, wie ihn nicht jeder kennt ". Das Aquarium 11 (9): 37-38. (in German).
• Lekagul, B. (1969). Monitors of Thailand. Conservation News of S.E. Asia 8: 31-32
• Losos, J.B., & Greene, H.W. (1988). Ecological and evolutionary implications of diet in monitor lizards. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 35: 379-407.
• Mertens, R. (1942). "Die Familie der Waranae (Varanidae) ". Abh. Senck. Nat. Gesel. Abh. 462; 465; 466.
• Nutphand, W. (NO DATE). The monitors of Thailand. Bangkok: Mitphadung Publishing Office.
• Pitman, C.R.S. (1962). More snake and lizard predators of birds. Bull. British Ornith. Club 82 (3): 45-55.
• Radford, L., & Payne, F.L. (1989). The reproduction and management of Varanus dumerilii. International Zoo Yearbook 28: 153-155.
• Raven, H.C. (1946). Predators eating green turtle eggs in the East Indies. Copeia 1946 (1): 48.
• de Rooij, N. (1915). The reptiles of the Indo-Australian archipelago. Leiden: E.J. Brill.
• Schlegel H. (1839). Abbildungen neuer oder unvollständig bekannter AMPHIBIEN, nach der Natur oder dem Leben entworfen herausgegeben und mit einem erläuternden Texte begleitet. Düsseldorf: Arnz & Comp. xiv + 141 pp. (Monitor dumerilii, new species, p. 78). (in German).
• Smith, M.A. (1922). On a Collection of Reptiles and Batrachians from the mountains of Pahang, Malay Peninsula. Journal of the Federated Malay States 10: 263-282. (Varanus dumerilii, p. 269).
• Smith, H.C. (1930). The monitor lizards of Burma. Journal Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 34: 367-373.
• Taylor, E.H. (1963). Lizards of Thailand. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 44 (14): 687-1077. (Varanus dumerilii, pp. 915, 918-920).
• Sprackland, R.G. (1976). Notes on Dumeril's monitor lizard Varanus dumerili (Schlegel). Sarawak. Mus. J. 24 (45): 287-291.

Source of article : Wikipedia