Spencer's goanna
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: Varanus
Species:
V. spenceri
Binomial name
Varanus spenceri
Lucas & C. Frost, 1903

Spencer's goanna (Varanus spenceri), also known commonly as Spencer's monitor, is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

Etymology

The specific name, spenceri, is in honor of English-Australian biologist Walter Baldwin Spencer.[2]

Geographic range

Varanus spenceri is found in eastern Northern Territory and northwestern Queensland, Australia.[3]

It is native to the Barkly Tableland.

Description

Varanus spenceri can grow to a total length (including tail) of up to 120 cm (47 in). Spencer's monitor is generally heavier than a similarly sized monitor of another species due to its "stockier" build. It has sharp claws which it uses for digging burrows.

Diet

Varanus spenceri eats anything it can find, including highly venomous snakes, small mammals, small lizards, eggs, and carrion (dead animals), and is able to digest anything it eats.

Defensive behavior

When threatened, V. spenceri hisses loudly, distends its throat and whips its aggressor with its muscular tail.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of V. spenceri is grassland.[1]

Living in black soil plains with no trees, Spencer's goanna is the only Australian monitor that does not readily climb, although juvenile animals will climb given the opportunity.

Reproduction

Clutch size of Spencer's monitor generally ranges between 11 and 30 eggs.[4]

Taxonomy

Varanus ingrami Boulenger, 1906, is an invalid name (a junior synonym) for this species.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Shea, G.; Hobson, R.; Amey, A. (2018). "Varanus spenceri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T83778868A101752365. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T83778868A101752365.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Varanus spenceri, p. 250).
  3. 1 2 Species Varanus spenceri at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  4. ↑ Varanus spenceri

Further reading

  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
  • Lucas AHS, Frost C (1903). "Descriptions of two new Australian Lizards, Varanus spencer and Diplodactylus bilineatus ". Proceedins of the Royal Society of Victoria 15: 145–147. (Varanus spenceri, new species, pp. 145–146).
  • Mertens R (1958). "Bemerkungen über die Warane Australiens ". Senckenbergiana biologica 39: 229–264. (in German).
  • Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.


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