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Varanus albigularis (DAUDIN, 1802)

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Higher TaxaVaranidae, Platynota, Varanoidea, Anguimorpha, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
SubspeciesVaranus albigularis albigularis DAUDIN 1802
Varanus albigularis angolensis SCHMIDT 1933
Varanus albigularis microstictus BOETTGER 1893 
Common NamesE: White-throated Monitor, Rock monitor
G: Kapwaran, Weißkehlwaran 
SynonymVaranus albigularis albigularis DAUDIN 1802
Tupinambis albigularis DAUDIN 1802: 72
Monitor albigularis — GRAY 1831: 28
Varanus Gillii A. SMITH 1831: 16
Varanus albogularis — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1836: 495
Monitor exanthematicus capensis — SCHLEGEL 1839: 71
Monitor exanthematicus capensis SCHLEGEL 1844 (not Lacerta capensis SPARRMAN 1783 = Varanus niloticus)
Regenia albogularis — GÜNTHER 1861: 109
Varanus albigularis — BOULENGER 1885: 307
Varanus exanthematicus albigularis — SCHMIDT 1919: 483
Varanus exanthematicus albigularis — AUERBACH 1987: 132
Varanus albigularis albigularis — BÖHME 1988: 1
Varanus exanthematicus albigularis — BOYCOTT 1992
Varanus (Polydaedalus) albigularis — BÖHME 2002
Varanus albigularis albigularis — PHILLIPS in PIANKA & KING 2004
Varanus (Polydaedalus) albigularis — BUCKLITSCH et al. 2016: 50
Varanus albigularis albigularis — BOURQUIN & GRUENER 2017
Varanus albigularis albigularis — MARQUES et al. 2018

Varanus albigularis angolensis (SCHMIDT 1933)
Varanus albigularis angolensis SCHMIDT 1933: 10
Varanus albigularis angolensis — LOVERIDGE 1936: 59
Varanus exanthematicus angolensis — MERTENS 1937: 9
Varanus albigularis angolensis — BÖHME 1988: 1
Varanus albigularis angolensis — ZIEGLER & BÖHME 1997
Varanus albigularis angolensis — BROADLEY & COTTERILL 2004
Varanus albigularis angolensis — PHILLIPS in PIANKA & KING 2004
Varanus albigularis angolensis — CERIACO et al. 2014
Varanus albigularis angolensis — MARQUES et al. 2018

Varanus albigularis microstictus (BOETTGER 1893)
Varanus microstictus BOETTGER 1893: 72
Varanus exanthematicus microstictus — MERTENS 1942: 355
Varanus exanthematicus microstictus — LOVERIDGE 1955: 178
Varanus exanthematicus ionidesi LAURENT 1964
Varanus albigularis microstictus — BÖHME 1988: 1
Varanus albigularis ionidesi — BÖHME 1988: 1
Varanus albigularis microstictus — BÖHME 2003
Varanus albigularis microstictus — PHILLIPS in PIANKA & KING 2004 
DistributionNamibia, Botswana, Republic of South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola, Tanzania,S Ethiopia, S Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, S Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire)

albigularis: Southern Africa, northwards to Angola, Zambia and Mozambique; Type locality: unknown.

angolensis: Angola, Zambia, neighboring areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Katanga); Type locality: Gauca, Biha, Angola.

microstictus: Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti; Type locality: “Abessinien" (= Ethiopia)  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesHolotype: MNHN-RA 6513
Holotype: CM S5967 [angolensis]
Holotype: MCZ 54494 [ionidesi]
Holotype: ZMB 15179 (?), SMF 11545 [microstictus] 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: (1) Distinctive dark temporal stripe originates at the orbit and continues to the shoulder, where it commonly branches. (2) Coloration: Head color is solid gray or brown above, with throat much lighter, especially below the temporal stripe. (3) Snout is blunt and bulbous with distinct thickening superior to the nares, especially in adults. (4) Body pattern with dark rosettes with cream-colored center; in adults, the rosettes are much less distinct and can give the illusion of bands around the ribcage. (5) Sharp, recurved claws. (Phillips in Pianka et al. 2004) 
CommentThe status of Varanus albigularis ionidesi LAURENT 1964 is unclear (this taxon is not listed by BÖHME 2002, not even as a synonym).

Distribution: For a detailed distribution map and locality data see BAYLESS (2002). 
EtymologyNamed after Latin “albus, -a, -um” = white and “gula” = throat. 
References
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