Varanus Similis

Mertens 1958
Spotted tree goanna

Differences between this goanna and V.scalaris have been outlined above. Bohme (1988) considered V.similis to be "probably a valid species" on the basis of its hemipenal morphology.

This monitor was previously known as Varanus rimorensis similis. It is found in northern Australia and the south of New Guinea (the Western Province of Papua and the adjacent part of Irian Jaya (Whitaker et al 1982; Brandenberg 1983)). Because nothing is known of the lifestyle of the animals in New Guinea and very few publications distinguish the Australian races from V. scalaris, this animal is discussed under V.scalaris. Captive care and breeding is reported by Peters (1968), Schmida (1971) , Ruegg (1974), Chippindale (1991) and Lambertz (1993. 1994).

Attribution / Courtesy: Daniel Bennett. 1995. A Little Book of Monitor Lizards. Viper Press U.K.