kids encyclopedia robot

Peach-throated monitor facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Peach-throated monitor
Varanus jobiensis.jpg
Conservation status
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Genus:
Varanus
Species:
jobiensis
Synonyms
  • Varanus indicus jobiensis
    Ahl, 1932
  • Varanus karlschmidti
    Mertens, 1951
  • Varanus jobiensis
    — Böhme, 1991
  • Varanus (Euprepiosaurus) jobiensis
    — Ziegler et al., 2007

The peach-throated monitor (Varanus jobiensis), also known as the Sepik monitor, is a species of monitor lizard native to New Guinea.

Taxonomy

Varanus jobiensis belongs to the subgenus Euprepiosaurus, which includes species such as the blue-tailed monitor and mangrove monitor, both of which it is sympatric with in much of its range.

It is likely that this species is actually a species complex of multiple different species that have been diverging since the Pliocene, and diverged from the V. indicus species complex 4.7 million years ago.

Distribution

Peach-throated monitor (Varanus jobiensis)
Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

Peach-throated monitors are endemic to New Guinea and surrounding islands such as Biak, Salawati, Yapen, Normanby, and Waigeo. It occurs in rainforests at altitudes of 0–900 m (0–2,953 ft).

Description

Peach-throated monitors grow up to 120 centimetres (3.9 ft) in total length (including tail). The colour of the throat is white-yellow to red, to which one of its common names refers.

Diet

Peach-throated monitors primarily eat insects, and sometimes frogs, but may also take freshwater fish and small mammals.

As food

Peach-throated monitors are hunted for human consumption in New Guinea.

Reproduction

Peach-throated monitors are oviparous.

Varanus jobiensis on log
Peach-throated monitor in a vivarium

Etymology

The specific name, jobiensis, which is Latin, means "from Jobi". Jobi is the island also known as Yapen, which is the type locality of this species.

The junior synonym, Varanus karlschmidti, was named in honour of American herpetologist Karl Patterson Schmidt.

Gallery

kids search engine
Peach-throated monitor Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.