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Varanus mitchelli MERTENS, 1958

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Higher TaxaVaranidae, Platynota, Varanoidea, Anguimorpha, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Mitchell's Water Monitor 
SynonymVaranus mitchelli MERTENS 1958: 256
Varanus mitchelli — STORR 1980: 271
Varanus mitchelli — COGGER 1983
Varanus mitchelli — DE LISLE 1996: 130
Varanus mitchelli — COGGER 2000: 369
Varanus mitchelli — WILSON & SWAN 2010
Varanus (Odatria) mitchelli — HÖRENBERG & KOCH 2013
Varanus (Odatria) mitchelli — BUCKLITSCH et al. 2016: 50 
DistributionAustralia (Northern Territory, Western Australia)

Type locality: 5 mi W of Oenpelli (as Ocupelli), N. T.  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesHolotype: SAMA R3230 (formerly USNM 128755), 5 miles W of Oenpelli Mission, NT, collected Australian-American Arnhem Land Expedition, iv-xi.1948. 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: A smooth medium-sized aquatic monitor (up to 69 cm long), all but base of tail strongly compressed. Distinguishable from V. mertensi by lesser size, tail not so strongly compressed, fewer midbody scale rows (less than 130, us more than 140), and darker coloration underneath, including heavily barred throat and dark under tail (both whitish in mertensi). (Storr 1980)


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Comment 
EtymologyNamed after Francis John Mitchell (1929-1970), a herpetologist. He was a volunteer at the South Australian Museum, Adelaide, while still a student. 
References
  • AIYER, ABHILASHA; BUNUBA RANGERS, TINA BELL, RICHARD SHINE, RUCHIRA SOMAWEERA, MILES BRUNY & GEORGIA WARD‐FEAR. 2022. Taking the bait: Developing a bait delivery system to target free‐ranging crocodiles and varanid lizards with a novel conservation strategy. Ecology and Evolution 12(6): 1–11. - get paper here
  • Ávalos, J. de & Martínez Carrión, P. 1997. Warane. Reptilia (Münster) 2 (5): 16-21 - get paper here
  • Bennet, D.F. 2003. Australian Monitors. Reptilia (GB) (30): 12-19 - get paper here
  • Bennet, D.F. 2003. Australische Warane. Reptilia (Münster) 8 (43): 18-25 - get paper here
  • Beolens, Bo; Michael Watkins, and Michael Grayson 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA - get paper here
  • BUCKLITSCH, YANNICK; WOLFGANG BÖHME, ANDRÉ KOCH 2016. Scale Morphology and Micro-Structure of Monitor Lizards (Squamata: Varanidae: Varanus spp.) and their Allies: Implications for Systematics, Ecology, and Conservation. . Zootaxa 4153 (1): 001–192 - get paper here
  • Bustard, H. R. 1970. Australian Lizards. Sydney: Collins 162 pp. - get paper here
  • Cogger, H. G. 2014. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 7th ed. CSIRO Publishing, xxx + 1033 pp. - get paper here
  • Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 6th ed. Ralph Curtis Publishing, Sanibel Island, 808 pp.
  • Doody, J. Sean. 2014. Varanus mitchelli (Mitchell's water monitor) predation. Herpetological Review 45 (4): 702 - get paper here
  • Eidenmüller, B. 2007. Small monitors in the terrarium. Reptilia (GB) (50): 12-19 - get paper here
  • Eidenmüller, B. 2007. Kleinwarane im Terrarium. Reptilia (Münster) 12 (63): 16-23 - get paper here
  • Eidenmüller, Bernd 2013. Von Darwin nach Alice Springs – der Warane wegen. Draco 13 (53): 55-61 - get paper here
  • FRÝDLOVÁ, PETRA and DANIEL FRYNTA 2010. A test of Rensch’s rule in varanid lizards. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 100: 293–306 - get paper here
  • Hörenberg, Thomas & André Koch 2013. Die Zwergwarane der Untergattung Odatria Gray, 1838. Draco 13 (53): 6-19 - get paper here
  • Lisle, H.F. de 1996. Natural History of Monitor Lizards. Krieger, Malabar (Florida)
  • Mertens, R. 1958. Bemerkungen über die Warane Australiens. Senckenbergiana biologica 39: 229-264
  • Pianka, E. R. and D. R. King, eds. 2004. Varanoid Lizards of the World. Indiana University Press, 599 pp - get paper here
  • Storr G M 1980. The monitor lizards (genus Varanus Merrem, 1820) of Western Australia. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. 8 (2): 237-293 - get paper here
  • Swanson, S. 1976. Lizards of Australia. Angus & Robertson, Sydney 80 pp.
  • Wilson, S. & Swan, G. 2010. A complete guide to reptiles of Australia, 3rd ed. Chatswood: New Holland, 558 pp.
 
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