Varanus obor
Encyclopedia
Varanus obor, the Sago or Torch Monitor, is a species
of monitor lizard
endemic to the Indonesia
n island of Sanana.
Euprepiosaurus, which has prominent red-orange markings on the body. Proportions of the body and the construction of scales most closely resembles Varanus melinus, which can be found on the islands of Mangole and Taliabu
. Most often V. obor occurs in coastal sago palm
swamps - a habitat that is underutilized by other species of the V. indicus group, but is also frequently encountered in riparian habitat
s and rainforest
s. It can reach lengths of 0.8 to 1.5 meters in length and weighs between 0.5 and 1.5 kg. The lizard was named "obor" (meaning "torch" in Indonesian
) due to its unique coloration.
Varanus obor was first seen in the wild by Valter Weijola, who in March and April 2009 visited Sanana. One preserved specimen (the holotype), apparently collected between 1860 and 1866, is housed in Naturalis (formerly Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, later Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum), Leiden, the Netherlands.
, specifically on the island of Sanana.
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 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...
endemic to the 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...
n island of Sanana.
Description
Varanus obor is the only melanistic member of the Pacific monitor (Varanus indicus) group, and the only species belonging to the subgenusSubgenus
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...
Euprepiosaurus, which has prominent red-orange markings on the body. Proportions of the body and the construction of scales most closely resembles Varanus melinus, which can be found on the islands of Mangole and Taliabu
Taliabu
Taliabu is a large island in the Sula Islands, which again are part of the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. It is located at , west of Mangole Island and Sanana Island....
. Most often V. obor occurs in coastal sago palm
Metroxylon sagu
Metroxylon sagu is a species of palm in the genus Metroxylon, native to tropical southeastern Asia in Indonesia , Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and possibly also the Philippines .It is a monocarpic palm growing to 10 m tall or more, with pinnate leaves up to 7 m...
swamps - a habitat that is underutilized by other species of the V. indicus group, but is also frequently encountered in riparian habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s and rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s. It can reach lengths of 0.8 to 1.5 meters in length and weighs between 0.5 and 1.5 kg. The lizard was named "obor" (meaning "torch" in Indonesian
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
) due to its unique coloration.
Varanus obor was first seen in the wild by Valter Weijola, who in March and April 2009 visited Sanana. One preserved specimen (the holotype), apparently collected between 1860 and 1866, is housed in Naturalis (formerly Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, later Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum), Leiden, the Netherlands.
Geographic distribution
The V. obor is found in IndonesiaIndonesia
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...
, specifically on the island of Sanana.