Hi all,

In Australia, we generally regard Flavi's as a subspecies of V. gouldii.

The Australian gouldii complex is split and keyed out this way:

You have Varanus gouldii, V. panoptes and V. rosenbergi

1 a)solid yellow tail tip (last 70 mm of an adult speciemen is solid yellow you have V. gouldii

B) tail banded to the end ....go to 2

2 a) found in Southern Australia (Victoria, NSW, SA, Southern WA (perth region) predominately greyish adult colouration...V. rosenbergi
B) Found in Northern Australia (QLD, NT, Northern WA (Mainly))not greyish as adults.

Within V. gouldii you have V. gouldii Flavirufus..its not well defined...but is generally yellow or reddish and restricted to Central Australia, the rest of the range is occupied by the nominate form.

Within V. panoptes you have V. p. rubidus it differs from the nominate by being redder in colouration, and having no dark bands on the tail tip

Reference:
Wilson, S. and Swan, G. 2003. A complete guide to the Reptiles of Australia. Newholland.

Regards,
Scott Eipper

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