To clarify, the question was overall percentage, not local percentage.



In the case of Savs, they could take 100% of the savs in those fields and it would not register as .01% of the overall poplation(total range).



When you say tree monitors, indeed collecting blacktrees on a single island would have a higher percentage, But not effect the percentage of ALL tree monitors. As most likely most of their locals are unknown. This most likely includes blacktrees as well.



If you look at the range maps, you see a blacktree type monitors found in extreme southern indo, and middle west indo, and another type in northeast indo. And one or more on mainland indo. The reality is, there are literally thousands of islands between these "known" locals. In recent years, some of these islands have been visited by "pet trade" collectors and they have come up with many "new" types(colors) of tree monitors, there are still thousands of islands and millions of acres left to explore.



A good example of this is, V.kingorum. This species has one of the smallest known ranges, a dot around kunanurra. Only problem with that is, its real range is huge. I personally found them to be very very common over a huge area, larger then many of our western states. Which clearly points out, that varanids are very low of the list of what is being studied. This same senario is common with many of Australias monitors.



Which may indeed point out, its even more common in areas like indo, where there is no interest in varanid species and ranges.



This is a very sad comment and I hate to be the one making it, but if it was not for the pet trade, about 10 species of monitor would be unknown to science. Please understand, I am not protecting or defending the pet trade, but it appears it has benefited science. As science has not got off their bums and done much in the way of work. Another example, in a very short time, I have found as many as five undescribed species of monitors in OZ, all by myself. I am not boasting, I am saying science does not seem to be all that interested.



I talked to a good fella and friend in oz about describing them, he told me, get in line mate, I got 27 undescribed tortosises in front of you.



This relates to this subject because, it shows, what is known to science is only a drop in the bucket, compared to reality. Cheers

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