New Lizard Species Discovered On Single Indo. Island; Torch Monitor - Reddish Head On Black Body

[hatrack]

Just weeks after scientists announced the discovery of a new monitor lizard in the Philippines, researchers have uncovered another unknown monitor inhabiting Southeast Asia. Described in Zootaxa, the new torch monitor (Varanus obor) is found only on the tiny island of Sanana, in the western Moluccan islands of Indonesia.

The new monitor lizard, named 'Torch' for its bright orange head which tops a black body, reaches almost four feet in length, a little smaller than the other recently-discovered monitor Varanus bitatawa from the Philippines. Researchers say the torch monitor in fact a close relative of Varanus bitatawa . Inhabiting the coastal sago palm mangrove forests on Sanana, the torch monitor is the only monitor species to have evolved red coloring.

Researchers believe that since no predatory mammals live on the eastern side of Wallace Line—a biological demarcation first set out by explorer-biologist Alfred Russell Wallace—big reptiles like the torch monitor, which feeds on small animals and carrion, have taken the place of top predator.



EDIT

http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0427-hance_torch.html

[ClarkUSA]

1. It seems monitors are to Indonesian islands as finches are to the Galapagos Islands.

Now if they could only stop the rainforest destruction.