Canopy goanna

Canopy goanna
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: Euprepiosaurus
Species: V. keithhornei
Binomial name
Varanus keithhornei
Wells & Wellington, 1985[1][2]
Synonyms
  • Varanus teriae Sprackland, 1991

The canopy goanna (Varanus keithhornei) is a species of monitor lizards native to northeast Australia. It is also known as the blue-nosed tree monitor,[3] Keith Horne's monitor, or occasionally as the Nesbit River monitor[4] It belongs to the subgenus Euprepiosaurus[5] and is a member of the Varanus prasinus species group.[6]

This monitor lizard is found in a restricted range near the Nesbit River, or in the McIlwraith or Iron Mountain Ranges on the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland.[7][8]

Description

The colouration of V. keithhornei is dark black on the upper side. It has moderately big and smooth head scales. Its tail has no visible keel.[9] The canopy goanna is small for a montor lizard, reaching a total length up to 77 cm.[10]

References

Further reading


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