Reptile & Amphibian Forums

in the literal sense... i know it's the subgenus for african monitors. poly = 'many', but daedalus is that greek mythology dude that made icarus's wings. how can you have many daedalii?!?

tia

Varanus Translations Volume 1 - ... STORR (1980) discovered that the form rosenbergi from southern Australia which was described by MERTENS (1957:18) as a subspecies of gouldii does not live and ...
http://mampam.50megs.com/monitors/translations1.pdf

Link

Hi Inaure,

If you go to http://www.curator.org/subgenus_polydaedalus.htm, that will discuss the subgenera group there - I have the description by Johan Wagler (1830) if you want to read that as well - it is a restriction to the African Varanus, however, V. yemenensis is also included in this clade as its afinity to V. albigularis is clearly obvious.

Hope ALL is well,
Cheers Inaure,
mark bayless

daedalus means well made or well built, I am guessing it is to do with the big sturdy teeth, not really got an idea though it's a wild shot in the dark
Daniel
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Mampam Conservation

maybe the guy just thought african varanids were well built? I for one certainly couldn't disagree

Hi Inare,
Here is what Johan Wagler wrote of Subgenera Polydaedalus in 1830:

here is Waglers account for you:

"Page 164:
Johan Wagler. 1830. Naturliches System der Amphibien. Munchen, Stuttgart und Tubingen.

Genus 86. POLYDAEDALUS, Zierdesche.
Nares rostri apicem inter et oculus intermediae, altissime et immediate infra canthum rostralem distinctum sitae, oblongae, obliquae, antice cute semiclausaw, squamae notaei per fasciolas dispoitae, appressae, oblongo-ovatae, medio gibbaw, limbo granuloso cinctae (Dentes maxillares posteriores validi, recti, integri). AFRICA.

Cheers,
mark bayless

Thanks, but is there an english version that you are aware of? Only got as far as latin1.

Hi Ianare,

I too only got as far as Latin I, I will ask a friend of mine who is very catholic if her priest can do it? They still speak it routinely. I'll get back to yo ASAP....

Cheers,
mark