SPECIES.

In a first step, all monitor species are briefly presented here; content will be expanded in the medium term. Photos inserted in the species fact sheets aim to illustrate wild specimens in their habitat; for species where an image of an individual in the wild was not available, this will be indicated accordingly.
The main message of these species fact sheets is to identify THREATS, RESEARCH NEEDS, and use these results for a new evaluation of the species‘ respective conservation status. Information is also provided about CURRENT PROJECTS on a species. A key objective is to obtain this information for each country, especially challenging for geographically widespread species such as Varanus niloticus, V. griseus and V. bengalensis. If a species occurs in more than one of the geographical realms to which all species were allocated to, it is then listed again, however photo and content will be adjusted accordingly, e.g., Varanus bengalensis, Varanus doreanus or Varanus griseus.
In addition, the monotypic Lanthanotus borneensis is also dealt within the IUCN SSC Monitor Lizard Specialist Group. It is the sole member of the family Lanthanotidae [Earless monitor lizards]) and together with the Varanidae reflect two families of the Superfamily Platynota (Varanoidea).
Some species fact sheets inform on the current known taxonomic status of the respective species including remaining uncertianties. Therein, references are provided that will not be listed here, but can be checked at The Reptile Database.
In species, that have not been evaluated to date, or that have been assessed several years ago and new relevant data has been published, this information is cited within the species fact sheets and full citations are added at the end, under „References referred to„.