Varanus indicus

Mangrove monitor

 

TAXONOMY: V. indicus reflects a species group, and the species’ wide distribution likely bears new species;  it is proposed to resurrect Varanus chlorostigma  following Gray 1931 for populations of Australia incl. those of New Guinea and offshore islands; however populations of Australia (at this stage) will still be listed as V. indicus.

DISTRIBUTION: Australia, Indonesia, Micronesia, [Pacific Territories of the USA and Japan], Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands (see Auliya & Koch 2020)

RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern (LC) in 2017

CITES: Appendix II

NATIONAL PROTECTION:

Indonesia. – Nationally protected according to the Regulation of the Minister of Environment & Forestry of the Republic Indonesia, http://ksdae.menlhk.go.id/assets/news/peraturan/P.20_Jenis_TSL_.pdf

Australia. – According to the Australian EPCT Act (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act) of 1999, the commercial export of live specimens is prohibited

THREATS:

RESEARCH NEEDS:

CURRENT PROJECTS:

Adult wild Varanus indicus, Batanta Isl., Indonesia © Carmelo López Abad

Adult wild Varanus indicus, Queensland © Gary Stephenson

Adult wild Varanus indicus, Queensland © Gary Stephenson

Adult wild Varanus indicus, Northern Territory © Gary Stephenson