Varanus salvadorii: Crocodile Monitor

Crocodile Monitor - Varanus salvadorii
( Peters & Doria, 1878 )

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Subspecies:	Unknown
Est. World Population:

CITES Status:	NOT LISTED
IUCN Status:	Least Concern
U.S. ESA Status:	NOT LISTED

Body Length:
Tail Length:
Shoulder Height:
Weight:

Top Speed:
Jumping Ability:	(Horizontal)

Life Span:	in the Wild
Life Span:	in Captivity

Sexual Maturity:	(Females)
Sexual Maturity:	(Males)
Litter Size:
Gestation Period:

Habitat:

This species is the largest lizard in New Guinea; the largest documented specimen is 2.65 m in total length (Böhme and Ziegler 1997) but anecdotal reports of larger animals are known. This species inhabits a range of habitats including rainforest vegetation such as mixed alluvial and mixed hill forest types, as well as riparian forests. It appears to be restricted to intact undisturbed primary forests and strictly avoids contact with humans. It is assumed to be a good swimmer and on several occasions individuals have been observed in forests along rivers (Philipp and Philipp 2007). It is thought to be highly arboreal and to prey on birds and mammals in the wild, but its prey preferences are poorly known. Captive females have produced clutches of 4-12 eggs (Horn, 2004).

Range:

Knowledge of the geographic distribution of this species remains very fragmentary. It is thought to occur over wide areas of lowland New Guinea, although it has been documented from relatively few localities. In Indonesian New Guinea it has been recorded at Dorei, Lake Sentani, Kwawi, Jamur River, Setekwa River, Jayapura, Fosaker and Eilanden River. In Papua New Guinea is has been recorded from Dinawa in the Owen Stanley Range in Central Province, Sibium Mountains in Oro Province, St. Joseph River, Stuart Island in Fly River and Kopi village in Gulf Province and in the southern Trans-Fly region Western Province (Pianka et al. 2004). Locals report that this species does not occur in the Trans-Fly region (M. O'Shea pers. comm. 2014), however, records exist from at least part of this area (O'Shea 1991, F. Parker pers. comm. 2014). It has been observed from sea level to 740 m asl.

Conservation:

This species is listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This species does not have protected status in Indonesian New Guinea (Natusch and Lyons 2012), but may be present in protected areas given its apparently wide range. Further research on this species' distribution is recommended.