Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i am just in need on infos on where exactly to look for these monitors and how to differentiate them from one another.

i am just doing a thesis on this.

tanks in advance for the help.

Where: Nuchalis is in the Visayas, marmoratus on Luzon, Palawan and some I fogot and mabitang in Panay. Excatly where I wouldn't like to say but you won't have any trouble with the first two.

Differentiating: Slit shaped nostril is mabitang, scales on the neck of nuchalis are heavily keeled, almost spiny. Scales on neck of marmoratus are raised but not as large or keeled as nuchalis. There are maybe differences in the scale counts as well, but the reported sample sizes are miniscule and I wouldn't rely on them. In fact if you go to that market in Pasay and look at the marmoratus there (from Bicol or so they say) you will see that some of them have fairly spiny necks and they definitely get more nuchalis like as you go south. Colours differ as well in that marmoratus is never very bright, at best jet black and bright yellow, but nuchalis come in some amazing colours and patterns, often with white heads. But there are also jet black nuchalis in some places. IF you find a monitor with slit shaped nostrils AND big scales on the neck it is rudicollis. We know it still lives in the philippines but only two slight doubtful records in over a hundred years. If you get a definite record you should take the animal to the National Museum (assuming opf course you have the necessary permits...). Good luck

I'm kidding, Daniel, its what you said that I find wierd..

could anyone ever mistake a rudicollis for any other monitor? The other varanids just don't come close.

Maybe I just need to keep looking..
D.

Hi Daniel,

If the two records are doubtful, and we have discussed them before, how do we know it is not geographically extinct in the Philippines now? We do know Hugh Cuming collected one, and William Martin brought it back with him in 1836; and all of the Philippine-rudicollis related literature since has all been speculative, nothing more....or have you found something your not telling me about?

Hope your trip in P.I. was good....did my paper its way to you, via Edinburgh University?

Cheers Daniel,
markb

hello Mark My friend bought a rudicollis in Manila from somebody who had caught it and didn't think it was anything special. If it had been imported they would have wanted a high price for it. Unofrtuntaely we dont know where he came from and he hasn't been seen since. That was last year. Enough to convince me that it must be there somewhere. If you sent mail to Edinburgh University it is unlikely to reach me because I have never been there. I was in Aberdeen until about three years ago but haven't had anything recently.
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