I have a friend that has a 2 year old BT and it's body coloring is black, and I could not see a lot of markings. Do they not keep the color they have as hatchlings with more defined markings?
Sybille
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Question about Color of Black Throat
slinn
Jun 12, 2005 04:58 PM
Replies (3)
reptilicus
Jun 12, 2005 05:13 PM
Hi,
There are V. albiuglaris that can be highly melanistic = all black. Actually the Biha, Angolan holotype V. albigularis microstictus collected in 1933 and described as the Angolan monitor lizard is just such an example - it is just a melanistic coloured black throat monitor (see Reptiles magazine, june-july 2000 issues)....
These types/colors of albigularsi are most frequent along Equatorial Africa, in lowland areas, where it is cool.
cheers,
mbayless
kap10cavy
Jun 12, 2005 05:14 PM
I could be wrong, but I have always thought of markings to aid in camouflage. It helps them to blend in and hide from predators. As they grow and can defend themselves, they lose some of their coloring. I have seen albigs with different markings and think it has alot to do with the loxcale they originated at. Maybe MarkB will confirm or dispute this.
Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
reptilicus
Jun 14, 2005 10:41 AM
Hi Scott,
I too agree with this - you can tell within a reasonable good chance what country and even what area within a country a V. albigularis comes from with an experienced eye and having looked at lots and lots of albigularis all over, living, dead, pics, skins, etc...it is not as hard as one would think.
Now I am looking at Nile/Forest Nile moitors - and that is not easy!!
Fortunately, there is another monitor out there like NO OTHER Varanus in Africa - and it is Varanus - of enormous proportions and morphology: 15 feet long, a keeled dorsal fin like a large crocodile, is uniform in color (beije, khacki), a forked tongue, and seen in 6 Countries in Africa now. First reported in 1847, it is in the literature and even local folklore of some tribes - and there is a reasonable good likeness of it in Roy Mackals 1987 book on his explorations to find a big dinosaur. Dr. Birket-Smith gives the best description of it in said book, but I did speak with a Missionary yesterday who has seen this animal with his wide ca. 1967.... this would make a daunting but easily identifiable animal in the pet trade should it ever reach there...
markb
