Peacock monitor

The peacock monitor (Varanus auffenbergi), also known commonly as Auffenberg's monitor, is a species of small monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species, which belongs to the subgenus Odatria, is endemic to Rote Island, Indonesia.^[3]

Peacock monitor
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Varanidae
Genus:	Varanus
Subgenus:	Odatria
Species:	V. auffenbergi
Binomial name
Varanus auffenbergi Sprackland, 1999[2]

Etymology

The generic name Varanus is derived from the Arabic word waral ورل, (alternative spelling waran= "lizard"). The name comes from a common semitic root ouran, waran, or waral, meaning "lizard".^[4] The occasional habit of varanids to stand on their two hind legs and to appear to "monitor" their surroundings may have led to this name, as it was Latinized into Varanus. The specific name auffenbergi honors US herpetologist Walter Auffenberg.^[5]

Description

Adult male from Rote Island. (Despite the caption, it is a peacock monitor, as it is from Rote Island)

The peacock monitor is one of the smaller monitor lizards, usually reaching a length of 60 cm (23.5 in).^[3] It is similar to the Timor monitor (V. timorensis), with some differentiation in the underside coloring and patterns. The coloring patterns fade as these lizards reach adulthood. The peacock monitor has blue-grey ocelli, whereas the Timor monitor has cream-colored ocelli.^[6]

Behavior

In the wild, peacock monitors have been seen climbing the trunks of palms and then basking on the crowns of the trees.^[7] The peacock monitor is calm and shy compared to other monitor lizards, remaining shy even in captivity.^[3]