Varanus tsukamotoi KISHIDA, 1929

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Higher Taxa	Varanidae, Platynota, Varanoidea, Anguimorpha, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
Subspecies
Common Names	E: Mariana monitor, Saipan monitor G: Maraiana-Waran Japanese: Tsukamoto Ohtokage
Synonym	Varanus tsukamotoi KISHIDA 1929 Varanus tsukamotoi — WEIJOLA et al. 2020 Varanus (Euprepiosaurus) tsukamotoi — WEIJOLA & KRAUS 2023
Distribution	Micronesia (Guam, Cocos Island, Saipan, Rota, Pagan, Tinian and Anatahan islands, Marshall Islands: Japtan Island) Type locality: Saipan, Caroline Islands
Reproduction	oviparous
Types	Neotype: USNM 576258, dessignated by Weijola et al. 2020. Additional specimens: Mariana Islands: Anatahan (USNM 212496); Cocos Island (USNM 494383); Guam (AMNH 137204, USNM 121793, 122462–63, 122465, 122468, 121796, 216368, 216869, 323717, 494380–82, 494582, 507452, 515827–29, 521160); Pagan (USNM 212489, 212491–93); Rota (AMNH 137202–03, 139986–88, USNM 122652–53, 285037); Saipan (SMF 30152–53, USNM 212487–88, 576257, 576259, ZMB 22645); Tinian (USNM 308067); indefinite locality (MNHN 1888 20); Marshall Islands: Enewetak Atoll, Japtan Island (AMNH 78994, USNM 124112–13).
Diagnosis	Diagnosis: Varanus tsukamotoi can be distinguished from all other members of the V. indicus group by its unique combination of: (i) dorsum black and covered with evenly distributed yellow scales, (ii) tongue dark blue/grey, (iii) yellow temporal stripe usually absent, (iv) low scale counts around the head (P: 31–40), tail base (Q: 54–74) and midbody (S: 101–126), and (v) usually prominent dark pigmentation in the gular region (Weijola et al. 2020). Unfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data to their customers. These details, e.g. detailed descriptions or comparisons (about 1699 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details.
Comment	Synonymy: Weijola et al. 2020 removed Varanus tsukamotoi from the synonymy of V. indicus. Distribution: see map in Weijola & Kraus 2023: 948 (Fig. 1).
Etymology	Kishida named this species in honour of Dr. Iwasaburo Tsukamoto, who supported his expedition to the South Sea Islands.
References	Buden, Donald W.; Danko Taboroši, Maria Kottermair, Andrea Jalandoni & Matthew Martin 2020. Reptiles of the Northern Marshall Islands. Pacific Science 74 (2): 189-209 - get paper here Kishida, K. 1929. A new monitor from the island of Saipan, South Sea Islands. Lansania 1: 13-16 Weijola V, Vahtera V, Koch A, Schmitz A, Kraus F. 2020. Taxonomy of Micronesian monitors (Reptilia: Squamata: Varanus): endemic status of new species argues for caution in pursuing eradication plans. R. Soc. Open Sci. 7: 200092 - get paper here Weijola, Valter & Fred Kraus 2023. Two new species of monitor lizards (Squamata: Varanus) endemic to the Louisiade and Tanimbar Archipelagos with a key to the subgenus Euprepiosaurus. JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY 57 (13–16): 947–975
External links	National Center for Biotechnology Information http://www.jcu.edu.au/dept/Zoology/herp/png/pngherp.html http://www.kingsnake.com/oz/lizards/monitors/monitors.htm http://www.amonline.net.au/herpetology/research/pdf/varanidae.pdf http://monitor-lizards.net/species/index.html http://www.reptilespark.com/home/varanus/x.htm http://www.embl-heidelberg.de/~uetz/families/Varanidae.html http://www.curator.org/LegacyVMNH/VMNH_Publications/MuseumJournals/lizard… http://www.arod.com.au/arod/reptilia/Squamata/Varanidae/Varanus/indicus Google images

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