Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Andrew,
I will disregard your assinine remark about asking fr about it - you know as well as I we do not agree on much re: varanids. You are inclined to your opinions of course, and so I am, and here is what Daniel Bennett told me today regarding your flippant remark about V. gouldii x V. flavirufus in wild: I quote:

Hello Mark
I didn't repoprt a gouldi/flavirufus cross, no idea where that came, not sure about speciation either because there doesn't seem to be any barrier between the two races, one is just better adapted for xeric conditions
All the best
Daniel

So here is THE expert on Varanus, and I can dig up more no problem, say Matt Vincent, Grant Husband, Jeff Lemm, Steve Irwin, etc if you wish to follow this up...no, I am not real up on Australian varanids, my thing is African forms, and historical aspects of Varanids - but seeing as I have collected material on these animals for 20 years, corresponded with thousands of people (and have proof of that too), common ground things such as your statement did not sit right with me.

You cantinue with your crass remarks to people and see where it gets you in the long run = not very far. Oh by the way, good luck with the "vitamins" and glauerts...

mbayless

Does this mean I was somewhat correct in my statements Mark?????LOL..... I cant understand why people try to give info on something that they either know nothing about or have nothing to back the statement up with...... I think that no proof of these crosses occuring naturaly is enough to back my statements up.......

Hi Gregg,
In my book you're correct Gregg - and Andrew said that Daniel had stated this - as you can see, Daniel said nothing of the kind, anywhere. He did not find any evidence of crosses, or said so written or orally - so on this basis of what Andrew said is incorrect. As for his other reference = no comment. Glad to see your having fun!

I heard you were a goober saturday night? What gives?? At somebodies house rather than having fun at the bars??

Just trying to set the record straight whenever possible, if I can?

and Andrew, I had kept varanids for 22 years before I could no longer do this - so I have seen alot of behaviors, eggs, matings, ect...documented alot of them, and in recent future will document a few more to, of behaviors not often seen in captivity or the wild. I literally have a metric tonne of material here, and there are alot of things via literature, correspondences with field people of all kinds that may surprise you! I am trying to write all of these things down now....going through another 2,500 localities of African Varanids for another Part II paper on their distribution - if you care to know, for alot of species, they are said to live here or there, but when you look at dot maps with localities, previous information is not always correct! Its called cross-check, double check and re-check, and then write it down. This goes for herp keepers too - it is amazing what has been observed in captivity, and with lack of field biologists via budget, finances, time, etc...we can report on things they will never see, and visa-versa...its a hand-in-hand relationship for most people - and that means talking with people, alot of them if your serious, and being considerate, polite, rather than condenscending can get you alot farther than the latter - but go do your thing, I really do not care, have fun...
markbayless