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Varanus komodoensis OUWENS, 1912

IUCN Red List - Varanus komodoensis - Vulnerable, VU
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Higher TaxaVaranidae, Platynota, Varanoidea, Anguimorpha, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Komodo Dragon
G: Komodowaran 
SynonymVaranus komodoensis OUWENS 1912
Varanus (Varanus) komodoensis — MERTENS 1942
Varanus komodoensis — DE ROOIJ 1915: 150
Varanus komodoensis — DE LISLE 1996: 130
Varanus komodoensis — AST 2001
Varanus (Varanus) komodoensis — KOCH et al. 2013
Varanus (Varanus) komodoensis — BUCKLITSCH et al. 2016: 50 
DistributionKomodo, Padar, Rintja, Flores, Lesser Sunda region of Indonesia

Type locality: Komodo Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia.  
ReproductionParthenogenesis has recently been reported for this species (WATTS et al. 2006). 
TypesSyntype: MZB (others probably in RMNH fide ISKANDAR & MUMPUNI 2002) 
Diagnosis 
CommentDistribution: SPAWLS et al. (2001) list this species also for Eastern Africa. 
EtymologyNamed after the type locality. 
References
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  • Ast, Jennifer C. 2001. Mitochondrial DNA Evidence and Evolution in Varanoidea (Squamata). Cladistics 17 (3): 211-226 [erratum in 18 (1):125] - get paper here
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  • Brenneman, Rick A.; Robert C. Barber; Ryan M. Huebinger; Julie A. Sommer & Edward E. Louis Jr. 2007. Characterization of ten microsatellite marker loci in the Komodo Monitor (Varanus komodoensis). Conservation Genetics 8:1017–1020 - 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
  • Bull, J. J.; Tim S. Jessop, Marvin Whiteley 2010. Deathly Drool: Evolutionary and Ecological Basis of Septic Bacteria in Komodo Dragon Mouths. PLoS One 5 (6): e11097 - get paper here
  • Burden, William Douglas 1928. Results of the Douglas Burden Expedition to the Island of Komodo V. Observations on the habits and distribution of Varanus komodensis Ouwens. American Museum Novitates (316): 1-10 - get paper here
  • Ciofi C.; Beaumont M. A.; Swingland I. R.; Bruford M. W. 1999. Genetic divergence and units for conservation in the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis. Proceedings: Biological Sciences 266 (1435): 2269-2269 - get paper here
  • Ciofi, C. et al. 2011. Development of a multiplex PCR assay for fine-scale population genetic analysis of the Komodo monitor Varanus komodoensis based on 18 polymorphic microsatellite loci. Molecular Ecology Resources 11: 550–556 - get paper here
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