Biawak - International Varanid Interest Group

Biawak 2007 Vol. 1 No. 125While visiting Pulau Ndao, a small island situated off the southwestern coast of Roti, in August2005, I observed a small female monitor (ca. 40 cm TL) of the V. timorensis species group which moreclosely resembled V. timorensis than V. auffenbergi. This animal was very similar to V. timorensis in itsmarkings, but possessed a pallid yellow coloration instead of the grey and white typically associated withV. timorensis. It was initially seen basking in a small tree, and then quickly retreated to a hollow cavitywithin the tree upon its discovery. The locals on Pulau Ndao claim that these monitor lizards live insidehollow trees, unlike V. auffenbergi on Roti, which inhabit the crowns of Lontar palms.My field observations are consistent with Schmutz and Horn’s (1986) brief account of “V. timorensis”in coastal areas of Roti. Limestone rocks and walls appear to be favorable sites for V. auffenbergi on Roti,as well as V. timorensis on Timor, and both species have been found beneath fallen palm fronds. AlthoughV. timorensis has been reported to shelter within Lontar palm stumps (Schmutz and Horn, 1986), only V.auffenbergi is known to inhabit the crowns of these palms.Literature CitedSchmutz, E. and H-G. Horn. 1986. Der Lebensraum von Varanus (Odatria) t. timorensis. Salamandra22(2.3): 147-156.Sprackland, R.G. 1999. A new species of Monitor (Squamata: Varanidae) from Indonesia. ReptileHobbyist 4(6): 20-27.