Varanus telenesetes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: Hapturosaurus
Species:
V. telenesetes
Binomial name
Varanus telenesetes
Sprackland, 1991

Varanus telenesetes, the mysterious tree monitor, is an enigmatic monitor lizard that may actually represent a colour faded specimen of the green tree monitor.[2][3] The species was described based on a single specimen supposedly collected on Rossel Island in the Louisiade Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. However, later searches of this island have failed to turn up any specimens and native islanders deny ever seeing it.[1] It is now believed that the original collection data was in error and that the species occurs on some other, currently unknown, island east of New Guinea.[4]

Description

Like all tree monitors, the body is slender with a long, prehensile tail (~2 times the SVL). It was originally described by Robert Sprackland in 1991 as being similar to the green tree monitor; it was dorsally green with indistinct black chevrons, and the nape and tail were visibly dark green. However, the specimen in question has since become entirely dark grey, appearing as if it was melanistic. It lacks a visible dorsal pattern unless held under alcohol, at which point narrow dark crossbands can be faintly seen.[2] The underside is cream-colored with deep brown spots and the throat is banded. Unique for tree monitors, the tongue color is yellow (vs. pink) and the soles of the hands and feet are light-colored (vs. dark). The total length of the known specimen is just over two feet (0.6 m), though it is likely that this represents an animal not fully grown as most tree monitors average a total length of around three feet (0.9 m).

References

  1. 1 2 Shea, G.; Allison, A.; Sweet, S. (2016). "Varanus telenesetes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T178388A21647361. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T178388A21647361.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "New data on the rare Varanus bogert Mertens, 1950 and v. telenesetes Sprackland, 1991 (Squamata:Varanidae), two endemic monitor lizard Taxa from island groups of southeastern New Guinea". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  3. ↑ Bucklitsch, Yannick; Böhme, Wolfgang; Koch, André (2016-08-17). "Scale Morphology and Micro-Structure of Monitor Lizards (Squamata: Varanidae: Varanus spp.) and their Allies: Implications for Systematics, Ecology, and Conservation". Zootaxa. 4153 (1): 1–192. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4153.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 27615821.
  4. ↑ Varanus telenesetes at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 13 November 2014.
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