Middle Eastern Distribution

Varanus caspius

Caspian monitor

For Information regarding Varanus caspius in Central Asia Please see this page – Varanus caspius

TAXONOMY: This species was elevated from subspecies level (Varanus griseus caspius) on Morphological and genetic grounds, alongside chorological distribution patterns in parapatric speciation with Varanus griseus and Varanus nesterovi (Böhme et al 2023) For further distribution data consult (Malakhov & Chirikova 2018)

DISTRIBUTION:

Middle East. – Iran

Further Distribution. – Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan (see Central Asia Page)

For a more detailed distribution see (Malakhov & Chirikova 2018)

RED LIST STATUS: Not Evaluated

CITES: Appendix I

NATIONAL PROTECTION:

THREATS:

General. – Increase and intensification of agriculture and livestock farming, trade for varying purposes (medicine, decor, food, pets, leather), urbanization.

RESEARCH NEEDS:

General. – Assess the impact of the varying threats on local populations; a socio-economic study resulting in awareness programs; reassess the taxonomic status of this species-complex.

CURRENT PROJECTS:

References referred to:

• Böhme, Wolfgang & Ahmed, Soran & Al-Sheikhly, Omar & Ararat, Korsh & Auer, Markus & Khudur, Farhad & Langner, Christian. (2023). DESERT MONITOR LIZARDS (SQUAMATA: VARANIDAE: Varanus: Psammosaurus) FROM THE MIDDLE EAST: FURTHER RECORDS OF NESTEROV’S DESERT MONITOR, Varanus (P.) nesterovi BÖHME, EHRLICH, MILTO, ORLOV ET SCHOLZ, 2015, FROM IRAQ, AND ADJACENT LOCALITIES OF Varanus (P.) g. griseus (DAUDIN, 1803) AND Varanus (P.) g. caspius (EICHWALD, 1831), WITH COMMENTS ON BIOGEOGRAPHY AND TAXONOMY. Russian Journal of Herpetology. Vol. 30. 518 – 528. 10.30906/1026-2296-2023-30-6-518-528.
• Malakhov, Dmitry V., and Marina A. Chirikova. “SPECIES DISTRIBUTION MODEL OF Varanus griseus caspius (EICHWALD, 1831) IN CENTRAL ASIA: AN INSIGHT TO THE SPECIES’BIOLOGY.” Russian Journal of Herpetology 25.3 (2018).