A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä
A new melanistic species of monitor lizard (Reptilia: Squamata: Varanidae) from Sanana Island, Indonesia
Tekijät: Weijola VSA, Sweet SS
Kustantaja: MAGNOLIA PRESS
Julkaisuvuosi: 2010
Journal: Zootaxa
Tietokannassa oleva lehden nimi: ZOOTAXA
Lehden akronyymi: ZOOTAXA
Numero: 2434
Aloitussivu: 17
Lopetussivu: 32
Sivujen määrä: 16
ISSN: 1175-5326
Tiivistelmä
A new species of monitor lizard endemic to Sanana Island in the northwestern Moluccas is described from a preserved specimen and field observations. This is the only melanistic member of the Varanus indicus species group, and the only taxon in the subgenus Euprepiosaurus with prominent orange-red markings. Allied to Varanus melinus of nearby Mangole and Taliabu islands in body proportions and scutellation, the new species is convergent with melanistic populations of the Varanus salvator complex from the Sula Platform, Sulawesi and Togian Islands. On Sanana the new species reaches highest densities in coastal sago palm swamps, a habitat type that is underutilized by other species in the V. indicus group elsewhere in the Moluccas.
A new species of monitor lizard endemic to Sanana Island in the northwestern Moluccas is described from a preserved specimen and field observations. This is the only melanistic member of the Varanus indicus species group, and the only taxon in the subgenus Euprepiosaurus with prominent orange-red markings. Allied to Varanus melinus of nearby Mangole and Taliabu islands in body proportions and scutellation, the new species is convergent with melanistic populations of the Varanus salvator complex from the Sula Platform, Sulawesi and Togian Islands. On Sanana the new species reaches highest densities in coastal sago palm swamps, a habitat type that is underutilized by other species in the V. indicus group elsewhere in the Moluccas.
Turun yliopiston Tutkimustietojärjestelmän portaali