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Varanus mabitang GAULKE & CURIO, 2001

IUCN Red List - Varanus mabitang - Endangered, EN

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Higher TaxaVaranidae, Platynota, Varanoidea, Anguimorpha, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
Subspecies 
Common NamesG: Mabitang, Panay-Waran 
SynonymVaranus mabitang GAULKE & CURIO 2001: 277
Varanus (Philippinosaurus) mabitang — BÖHME 2002
Varanus (Philippinosaurus) mabitang — KOCH et al. 2013
Varanus (Philippinosaurus) mabitang — BUCKLITSCH et al. 2016: 50 
DistributionPhilippines (Panay)

Type locality: South Pandan Forest, ca. 250 m. elevation, Municipality of Pandan, Antique Province, NW Panay Island, Philippines.  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesHolotype: PNM 7272, female 
DiagnosisDiagnosis. V. mabitang can be distinguished from Varanus olivaceus Hallowell, 1856, as follows:
(1) Dorsal side black with scattering of tiny yellow dots on the posterior end of some scales of neck, back, and extremities (vs. greenish gray with darker transverse bands across neck, back, and tail, and extremities irregularly mottled yellowish-olive and gray);
(2) ventral surface of head, neck, tail, extremities, and belly dark gray to blackish (vs. grayish, grayish green, or yellow-gray with 3-4 longitudinal brownish black to black stripes on throat);
(3) nuchal scales adjoining head scales smaller than these (vs. same size);
(4) extremely small scales on neck, body, and tail, and consequently very high standard scale counts: scales from rictus to rictus 70 (vs. a maximum of 61, average 58,4), transverse rows of ventral scales from gular fold to a theoretical line connecting the insertion of hindlegs ventrally 124 (vs. a maximum of 121, average 109), transverse rows of dorsals from gular fold to a theoretical line connecting the insertion of hindlimbs dorsally 138 (vs. a maximum of 122, average 112), Tab. 1;
(5) tail triangular in cross section, upper scale crest with a well defined, double, longitudinal keel (vs. irregular oval in cross section, low double keel on tail hardly discernible), Fig. 1;
(6) head elongate, snout region slightly domed (vs. more massive with sloping snout region), Fig. 2;
(7) cranial table with well developed bulges above temporal regions (vs. flat);
(8) ventrals strongly keeled (vs. smooth or feebly keeled);
(9) scales of tail strongly keeled throughout entire length (vs. tail scales close to vent smooth), Fig. 3;
(10) exclusively vegetarian diet at least in the holotype (vs. a balanced molluscivorous-frugivorous diet). (Gaulke & Curio 2001)


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CommentAppears to be one of only two monitors which are primarily vegetarian (in addition to V. olivaceus which also feeds on fruit, among other food), although it also eats some animals.

Habitat: arboreal 
EtymologyNamed after the name mabitang, which has been used for this species since generations within its range by the local people. The meaning is somewhat like big monitor lizard (in Kinarayan dialect). The name is used as invariable noun in apposition to the generic name. 
References
  • Böhme,W. 2003. Checklist of the living monitor lizards of the world (family Varanidae). Zoologische Verhandelingen 341: 6-43 - get paper here
  • Gaulke, M. 2005. Freilanduntersuchungen am Mabitang (Varanus mabitang), einer stark bedrohten Großwaranart von der Philippinen-Insel Panay. Elaphe 13 (1): 51-56
  • Gaulke, M. 2010. Overview on the Present Knowledge on Varanus mabitang Gaulke and Curio, 2001, Including New Morphological and Meristic Data. Biawak 4 (2): 50-58 - get paper here
  • Gaulke, M. 2011. The herpetofauna of Panay Island, Philippines. Edition Chimaira, 390 pp.
  • Gaulke, M. & A. D. Demegillo 2008. Der Mabitang (Varanus mabitang), ein Früchte fressender Großwaran von den Philippinen. Reptilia (Münster) 13 (71): 67-74 - get paper here
  • Gaulke, M. & Demegillo, A. 2001. Gut versteckt in den Bäumen: der Mabitang-Waran. ZGF-Berichte 2001 (4): 4-6
  • Gaulke, M. & E. Curio 2001. A new monitor lizard from Panay Island, Philippines (Reptilia, Sauria, Varanidae). Spixiana 24 (3): 275-286 - get paper here
  • Gaulke, M.; Altenbach, A.V.; Demegillo, A. & Struck, U. 2005. On the distribution and biology of Varanus mabitang. Silliman Journal 46 (1): 89-117
  • Gaulke, Maren; Curio, E.; Demmegillo, A.; Paulino, N. 2002. Varanus mabitang, a rare monitor lizard from Panay Island and a new conservation target. Silliman Journal 43: 24-41
  • Koch A, Ziegler T, Böhme W, Arida E, Auliya M. 2013. Pressing Problems: Distribution, Threats, and Conservation Status of the Monitor Lizards (Varanidae: Varanus spp.) of Southeast Asia and the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Herp. Cons. Biol. 8 (Monograph 3): 1 − 62. - get paper here
  • Pianka, E. R. and D. R. King, eds. 2004. Varanoid Lizards of the World. Indiana University Press, 599 pp - get paper here
  • Welton, Luke J.; Cameron D. Siler, Daniel Bennett, Arvin Diesmos, M. Roy Duya, Roldan Dugay, Edmund Leo B. Rico, Merlijn Van Weerd, and Rafe M. Brown 2010. A spectacular new Philippine monitor lizard reveals a hidden biogeographic boundary and a novel flagship species for conservation. Biology Letters doi:10.1098/rsbl.2010.0119 - get paper here
  • Ziegler, Thomas; Gaulke, Maren; and Böhme, Wolfgang 2005. Genital morphology and systematics of Varanus mabitang Gaulke & Curio, 2001 (Squamata:Varanidae). Current Herpetology 24 (1):13-18. - get paper here
 
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