Short-tailed monitor

Taxobox
name = Short-tailed monitor
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Scleroglossa
familia = Varanidae
genus = "Varanus"
species = "V. brevicauda"
binomial = "Varanus brevicauda"
binomial_authority = Boulenger, 1898 The Short-tailed monitor, or the pygmy goanna, is the smallest living monitor lizard, and may be the smallest species of monitor that has ever existed with a maximum length of 25cm.cite book | last = Cogger | first = Harold |authorlink = Harold Cogger | last2 = Zweifel | first2 = Richard | title = Reptiles & Amphibians | publisher = Weldon Owen | location = Sydney |date = 1992 | isbn = 0831727861] They live in desert regions of Australia.

Taxonomy

Its scientific classification is "Varanus brevicauda".ITIS|ID=716504 |taxon="Varanus brevicauda"|year=2008|date=26 August] The generic name "Varanus" is derived from the Arabic word "waral" ورل, which is translated to English as "monitor".cite book |author=King, Ruth Allen; Pianka, Eric R.; King, Dennis |title=Varanoid Lizards of the World |publisher=Indiana University Press |location=Bloomington |year=2004 |pages=225-229 |isbn=0-253-34366-6 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=] The specific name is a combination of two Latin words: "brevis" meaning "short" and "cauda" meaning "tail".

Distribution

The short-tailed monitor ranges throughout central Australia from the coast of Western Australia through the interior of Northern Territory and north western South Australia to western Queensland. This monitor burrows in compacted sandy loam and gravel, in areas dominated by spinifex("Triodia sp".). This terrestrial species is secretive and rarely seen active above ground; it is mainly encountered by digging up its burrow.

Diet

This small monitor eats insects and reptile eggs.Citation | last = Pianka | first = Eric R. | last2 = Vitt | first2 = Laurie J. | title = Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity (Organisms and Environments, 5) | place = California | publisher = University of California Press | year = 2003 | volume = 5 | edition = 1 | isbn = 9780520234017 ]

Conservation

The main threat to short-tailed monitors is predation by larger animals.

References

* Cogger, H. (1967). "Australian Reptiles in Colour". Sydney: A. H. & A. W. Reed, ISBN 0-589-07012-6
* King, Dennis & Green, Brian. 1999. "Goannas: The Biology of Varanid Lizards". University of New South Wales Press. ISBN 0-86840-456-X