Is there a difference between black headed and freckled monitors?
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black headed-freckled, is there a differ
RoadSpawn
Aug 18, 2009 05:25 PM
Replies (2)
Sulfurboy1o3
Aug 19, 2009 01:49 PM
Varanus tristis is an aussie monitor that has a huge range and just vary upon locality(Some darker,lighter,reddish). There are a few variations here in the USA. blackheaded, racehorse goanna,freckled are just other common names used.
jmugleston
Aug 22, 2009 02:15 AM
Short answer: Varanus tristis is broken into 2 subspecies. Varanus tristis orientalis (freckled monitor) and V. t. tristis (mourning goanna or black headed monitor). Varanus tristis is most likely a species complex representing multiple subspecies or species.
In the states we supposedly have representatives of both subspecies but as mentioned elsewhere, they may be intergrades. You can find a number of books that mention the difference between the recognized subspecies, and many of the lizards here look like something in between those descriptions.
