Mertens' Water Monitor (species: Varanus mertensi) in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Gnathostomata > Tetrapoda > Reptilia > Lepidosauria > Squamata > Autarchoglossa > Varanidae > Varanus > Varanus mertensi (gallery)
Varanus mertensi
Mertens' Water Monitor


©Natalie Tapson: Mertens' Water Monitor (Varanus mertensi)

©Phasmatisnox on Wikipedia: Mertens' Water Monitor (Varanus mertensi)

©David Witherall and Charlie Mitchell: Mertens' Water Monitor (Varanus mertensi), Fitzroy Island

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Varanidae
Genus Varanus
Species Varanus mertensi
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Distinguishing features

It is dark brown to black above, with many small cream or yellow spots. The underparts are paler – white to yellowish – with grey mottling on the throat and blue-grey bars on the chest. The tail is strongly compressed laterally, with a high median dorsal keel, and is about 1.5 times the length of head and body. (Wikipedia)

Size

  • Up to 100 cm (Length of specimen)

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution: Varanus mertensi

Distribution and habitat preferences

The monitor is found in coastal and inland waters across much of northern Australia, from the Kimberley region of Western Australia, across the Top End of the Northern Territory and the Gulf Country, to the western side of the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland. (Wikipedia)

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