Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've only ever had BT's so I wanted to confirm that this little guy/girl is a WT

Thanks for the help

Here is another pic

That last photo shows me that it is in fact a monitor. They've been known to bite like that. Ha! Ha!

Unfortunately, Colonel, I'm not experienced enough to give you the answer you're looking for. Post your pics & question in the general monitor section for more views & replies. Most of us seldom wonder into these subforums.

Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

yes, looks like a white throat to me

Yes, that is a whitethroat monitor....Varanus albigularis. The dorsal spotting on most southern whitethroats are bigger than the one you have so I would venture to guess that you may have the northern form (kenya/northern tanzania). It is known as Varanus albigularis microstictus. That last word means little spot...I think. I breed whitethroats and am currently working with the south African whitethroats. Sometimes referred to as "banded capes". I've got a clutch of eggs incubating now that should hatch around Thanksgiving.
Rob.
rjfaust70@yahoo.com

Actually Rob, that's a Northern Whitethroat (Varanus albigularis albigularis) they have an irregular and large spots conpaired to Microstictus. Here's a few exmaples, of A V.a.a(same locale), and V.a.m, and one of a 'intergrade' since they are only subspecies of the same species much of one subspecies will look like the other.

(The 'intergrade looking one' is to the bottom left.)

So to the orginal poster, that animal is a Varanus albigularis albigularis (Northern phase Whitethroat).

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Chad

Sorry,
Chad

Are all different subspecies or intergrades, I would let them grow up, their patterns and colors will change many times in the first year alone Chad.
The thing about microstictus is that I have yet to find more than a few pictures that show the same subspecies anywhere, most publications and owners of the animals have their animals confused, so therefore I would not assume a subspecies such as microstictus or an intergrade, or one with such minor differences so easily, to me all 3 look like the same subspecies. All microstictus photos (that appear to be real microstictus) Ive seen have more spots placed closer together than any of your 3.
The white throat the original poster pictured looks alot like a good friends WT Blaize while he was small, here he is grown up.
I have to get newer pics of him.

Before YOU assume that I assumed re-read my post.

First of all read these comments. "and one of a 'intergrade'"
"(The 'intergrade looking one' is to the bottom left.)"

I never said that it WAS, I said it "looked" like one.

The one labled Microstictus indeed IS looks at the small occlii dots, the tail pattern, leg pattern, and head structure (I didn't post that picture) is all microstictus, the other two are CLEARLY V.a.a Whitethroat from a more Northern range (darker brickredish) than were used to seeing... I believe it's more North than Blaize, he looks like my female Whitethroat Mark.

Keep in mine V.a.a (Northerns) intergrade (come in contact) with V.a.m, and iondesi somewhere in the Northern ranges of Africa.

Also keep in mind that this complex is all messed up.

Cheers,
Chad

That you pictured.
They look like the same subspecies (V.a.albigularis) with the usual normal changes from one individual to another. I can go to any reptile show with a bunch of WTs available to pic from, and BTs, I can sit 50 of each side by side, and they would vary among the same pattern just enough to look a bit different, and some much different or similar to your 3.
All 3 of yours appear to be the typical Tanzanian V.a albigularis that is almost alway imported for the pet trade. Like I said, let them grow up, the sizes of those spots, everything else will change, the colors, etc.
Blaize looked much different throughout his life than he does today, in fact he had ALL very very small spots widely spaced, none of which appear the same now. He had straight pattern at one time of small (very very small spots) spots, and at one time those spots changed angles, and got larger, much much larger in proportion to him.
I was told at 6 different times in Blaizes life by knowledgeable people that he was a different subspecies each time. Ive seen albigs grow up from hatchlings many times, I have pictures of the huge difference that occur in some of them, sometimes one month to the next, constantly changing.
The microstictus I have seen pictures of (the accurate pictures from Harold DeIsle), from websites such as Pete Zupichs, and from individuals I saw first hand at a local exotic reptile store that was open many years ago (out in BFE, back when I was just out of the active army and you were only about 5 years old) had many many small spots side by side in a tight pattern from one side of the body to the other with larger white spots across the back in between, they had a tight pattern of bright spots on the legs. Take a look at the photo on the Dutch monitor website under the name V.a.microstictus, look at the top lizard in the photo, its a perfect example, the lower lizard has a less definite pattern, it appears like the one I have pics of from a good friends (he sold it a while back).
Somewhere I have pictures of what Mark Bayless told me was a Microstictus, it was one of a good friends captives. This lizard was small like your 3, but looked way different.
In all these years I have dealt with albigs, I wont assume without these references and others I have around the house (pictures, pattern drawings, etc) that any albig is a Microstictus myself, especially one that does not resemble them.
Who identified those lizards as different subspecies for you?
I hope it wasnt who you bought them from, I dont know too many reptile dealers that can identify a coconut from a banded WT.

Im not saying that any of them could or couldnt be V.a.microstictus, but give them some time to grow up.
The newer picture in the clean bucket they are all actually resembling both subspecies. This is why I dont really understand classiying them differently when they can be so close, just a difference in pattern or color.
An example of what strange colors changes can do with growth.
Sobek (now), under the dirt shes always covered in, and the new clean skin (shes shedding agian), she has very light colors and a light pattern, but she shows the blue (almost light robin egg blue around her neck and shoulder area from the BT, but those light colors and a part of her pattern comes from the 2/3rds cape banded WT that makes her up. Of course all dirty and with old skin on her she looks like a light colored BT.
I hope truthfully that all 3 of yours grow to leave no doubt as to what they are. By the way, how is everything going now Chad?