Varanus umbra ZOZAYA, READ, MACOR, PAVÓN-VÁZQUEZ, GALE, WRIGHT & BROADY, 2026
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Varanus umbra
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| Higher Taxa | Varanidae, Platynota, Varanoidea, Anguimorpha, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Orange-headed rock monitor |
| Synonym | Varanus umbra ZOZAYA, READ, MACOR, PAVÓN-VÁZQUEZ, GALE, WRIGHT & BROADY 2026 |
| Distribution | Australia (Queensland) Type locality: North Head Station, Queensland (18.7672°S, 143.333°E), |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype: QM J99222 (field no. SMZ3469); collected 11 July 2023 by S.M. Zozaya, W.J. Read, and S.A. Macor. Paratype: QM J99224 (field no. SMZ3502); Gilberton Station, Queensland (19.2166°S, 143.6413°E), collected 18 July 2023 by W.J. Read, S.M. Zozaya, and S.A. Macor. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Distinguished from all Varanus by the combination of: small body size (SVL ≤137 mm; total length ≤409 mm); slender build; head and body dorsoventrally depressed; tail moderately long (190%–199% of SVL), thin, and circular in cross-section midway along its length; scales on the supraorbital semicircles significantly smaller than, and sharply delineated from, interocular scales; midbody scale rows 154–162; paracloacal spurs in males bluntly pointed, not terminating in an attenuated spine, and similar in size or slightly enlarged compared with adjacent scales; dorsal and lateral scales on tail bluntly keeled, not terminating in a raised, sharp, posterior point; plantar scales and subdigital lamellae hemispherical and darkly pigmented to varying degrees; granules bordering primary midbody dorsal scales extend ≤50% to anterior scale margin; ground color in life orange to yellow–brown on head and nape, grading to smoky grey by the midbody, which is consistent across hindbody and anterior tail, grading to brown–grey on the posterior of tail; dark dorsal reticulum continuous on the forebody, becoming increasingly discontinuous and irregular posteriorly and on the nape; weakly defined pale ocelli on the forebody, often but not always enclosing a small dark central spot or fleck surrounded by a pale ring measuring three to four scales wide; dorsal surfaces of forelimbs with obscure dark reticulum that is less distinct or absent on hindlimbs, never forming distinct ocelli with a central spot; patterning on dorsal and lateral surfaces of tail typically absent, at most comprising an obscure dark reticulum or mottling on tail base. (Zozaya et al. 2026) Unfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data. However, these details, e.g. detailed descriptions (about between half a page and a page) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us if you need any of this material. |
| Comment | Distribution: see map in Zozaya et al. 2026: Fig. 1. |
| Etymology | Named after Latin umbra, meaning ‘shade’ or ‘shadow’, in reference to the distinctive coloration of the species: an orange head and forebody transitioning to a dark grey hindbody, evoking the appearance of being cast in shadow or resembling the horizon at dusk. The name is used as a noun in apposition. |
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