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Freckled Monitor

Varanus tristis orientalis

Photo by Liana
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

This beautiful goanna is approx 80cm (2.62feet) long. There are two ssp to the Black-tailed Monitors of which this is the Freckled Monitor. They are "beautifully patterned, with rows of white ocelli (eye shaped circles) with dark centres, covering its back. The base colour varies from red-brown to light grey-brown and black. Spotted patterning can occur at the start of the tail but the end of the tail is usually black. The monitor is a slender goanna, growing to lengths of 80 centimetres, although over half the length comprises the tail." (Australian Reptile Park: https://reptilepark.com.au/animals/reptiles/monitors/freckled-monitor/ )

Habitat:

Climbing a tree to get away from four humans in the sparse bushland around the Prison Boab Tree.

Notes:

Thank you Malcolm Wilton-Jones for identifying this lovely goanna!

Further reference: p402, A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia.

Atlas of Living Australia: https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:d…

Reference Links:

Black-headed monitor - Wikipedia, 500 Internal Server Error

Species ID Suggestions

western Argus Monitor

Varanus panoptes rubidus

Reference Link
Jellis
1

Spiny Tailed Monitor

Varanus acanthurus

Reference Link
MudWiggle
1

Freckled Monitor

Varanus tristis orientalis

Reference Link
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
5

Comments (10)
Liana
Thank you Malcolm Wilton-Jones for identifying this lovely goanna!
Liana
I have just added an extra photo (I found a pic of the face). I am now inclined to identify this as a Freckled Monitor (Varanus tristis orientalis) but if anyone is willing to clarify or suggest more before I change the name of the spotting and add further info, that would be great :)
Liana
Thank you Mudwiggle! After seeing this critter I began to understand how beautiful reptiles really are. It was an unintentional treeing...I kept wandering around and I think we startled each other! Only I couldn't run up a tree :D
Liana
Wow!...Thank you everybody for your suggestions and explanations! And yes Ashley, you read my mind, I certainly did get more than I bargained for! :D I cannot wait to get a final identification! There is just so much to learn :)
AshleyT
I think you got a bit more help than you bargained for ;) Based on facial pattern alone, I don't find any matches to V. panoptes or V. acanthurus. They both have stripes on the face and neck, where as the facial pattern matches exactly to V. tristis that Malcolm suggested. But, varanids are not something I am familiar with, so I'm not sure how variable that is. Just my thoughts on the matter :)
MudWiggle
He is awesome! We have spent much time looking for such a rarity. His pattern is beautiful, you are so lucky to have treed him and got so close. Nice!
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
I am inclined to think this is actually a Freckled Monitor, to me it is a much closer match. Western Australia has no less than 24 species or sub-species listed here http://reptilesofaustralia.com/lizards/monitors/monitors.htm#.Vqe1CiorKUl so great care should be taken.
Scott Frazier
I don't personally know Varanus panoptes although it fits range-wise and size-wise. However the pattern on this specimen gives me pause because it looks like more of a mosaic pattern. I don't know the following species either, but it seems closer to the pattern possessed by Varanus acanthurus, which also fits in terms of range and size.
Jellis
This is the reddish subspecies of the Yellow spotted Argus.

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2016 Best Wildlife Photo
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PublishedJanuary 26, 2016

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