The peacock monitor also known as Auffenberg's monitor, is a species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of small monitor lizard

Monitor lizard

Monitor lizards are usually large reptiles, although some can be as small as in length. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic monitors are also known...

 native to the island of Roti

Roti

Roti is generally a South Asian bread made from stoneground wholemeal flour, traditionally known as atta flour, that originated and is consumed in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It is also consumed in parts of the Southern Caribbean, particularly in Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and...

, Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

.
It belongs to the subgenus

Subgenus

In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...

 Odatria along with the Pilbara monitor

Pilbara Monitor

The Pilbara Monitor , also known as Bush's Monitor, is a newly discovered species of monitor lizard. The species is named after naturalist and herpetologist, Brian Bush. This species belongs to the subgenus, Odatria...

 and King's goanna

King's Goanna

King's Goanna , is a species of small monitor lizard It is also known as King's Rock Monitor and it is found in Australia. Specifically it is endemic to the Northwest part of the Northern Territory, and the Northeast part of Western Australia. It belongs to the subgenus Odatria along with the...

.

Etymology

The generic

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 name Varanus is derived from the Arabic word waral ورل, (alternative spelling 'waran'= "lizard"). The name comes from a common semitic root ouran, waran, or waral meaning "lizard". It has been suggested that the occasional habit of varanids to stand on their two hind legs and to appear to "monitor" their surroundings led to this name, as it was Latinized into Varanus. Its specific

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 name auffenbergi is a Latinization of US herpetologist Walter Auffenberg

Walter Auffenberg

Walter Auffenberg was an American herpetologist who spent almost 40 years in field research, studying reptile and amphibian paleontology and the systematics and biology of numerous reptile species, including alligators and Komodo dragons.-Early life:...

's last name.

Description

The peacock monitor is one of the smaller monitor lizards, usually reaching a length of 60 cm (23.5 inches.). It is similar to the Timor monitor (Varanus timorensis

Varanus timorensis

The Timor Monitor or Spotted Tree Monitor is a species of small monitor lizard native to the island of west and east Timor.- Description :...

), with some differentiaton in the underside coloring and patterns. The coloring patterns will fade as these lizards reach adulthood. They have blue-grey ocelli, whereas the Timor monitor has cream-colored ocelli.

Behavior

In the wild, peacock monitors have been seen climbing the trunks of palms and then basking on the crowns of these trees. They are mild and shy compared to other monitor lizards. Peacock monitors remain shy even in captivity

Captivity (animal)

Animals that live under human care are in captivity. Captivity can be used as a generalizing term to describe the keeping of either domesticated animals or wild animals. This may include for example farms, private homes and zoos...

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Further reading

• JCVI.org (Downloaded Feb. 10, 2010.)
• Varanaus.nl (Downloaded Feb. 10, 2010.)
• ITIS.gov (Downloaded Feb.11, 2010)
• Museumstuff.com (Downloaded Feb.11, 2010)
• Wesiak, K., Unterbringung, Pflege und Nachzucht von Varanus (1999). (Odatria) auffenbergi SPRACKLAND [Housing, care and breeding of Varanus (Odatria) auffenbergi SPRACKLAND 1999.
• Green, Brian & Dennis Goanna King (1999). Monitors : The Biology of Varanid Lizards, 2nd ed. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar.
• King, Ruth Allen; Pianka, Eric R.; King, Dennis (2004). Varanoid Lizards of the World. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. pp. 225–229. ISBN 0-253-34366-6.
• King, Dennis & Green, Brian. (1999). Goannas: The Biology of Varanid Lizards. University of New South Wales Press. ISBN 0-86840-456-X