Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've already searched the net and the forum archives, but they never had precisely the info I'm after, so i figured I'd just ask.

I know there's significant color differences between the two, but are there any appreciable differences in adult size and temperment? On one hand, they are the same species, and I'm familiar with SHvar's hybrid, Sobek, which indicates a pretty close level of similarity, but on the other hand, I'm aware that regional variation can have substatial effects.

So, are there any significant differences beyond price, availibility, and pattern/colors?

Hi,
Yes there are differences in habitat between black and white throat monitors (all of them being Varanus albigularis) across African continent. Equatorial/central African types tend to grow much larger, are darker and certainly larger - and thats because there is more food available and they do not have to brumate (hibernate) in the summer months as the southern white throats do as winters are more severe climate wise and summers not as much food. So this means different sizes total length, and different "personalities" too; black throats are bigger = more blow-hards = huff and puff and blow your house down, but beware of that tail - they use it well and go for the eyes! The white throats are abit more mellower, grow to perhaps 4.5 feet, and more sedentary. All of them enjoy insects, snails, snakes, and birds. Their predominant enemy is the martial eagle which makes up to 50% of their diet V. albigularis. So they are wary of airplanes, birds, and your hands approaching from above when they are outdoors...and again beware of the tail! They use it better than Calamity Jane and Roy Rogers could use a whip!

cheers,
markb

Mainly color, pattern, size and weight differences. Shadow my older cross is a banded WT (Dozer, a Pete Zulpich banded WT) crossed with a BT (female), as Sobek was the result of breeding Dozer back to one of his daughters. Both if kept in the same conditions can get enormous (Titan from San Diego, deceased, was 6'10" and 32 lbs I believe, he was a WT)(There was a 7' 3" BT that Clyde Peeling had once, 53lbs if I remember right). They can vary in personality from as sweet as Sobek to as unhandleable as one male BT I had once (hissed and tail whipped upon sight of people, and tried to bite anyone he could get near). I like Marks response, very very informative, and yes they use that tail for darn near everything from communication "hello, goodbye, good morning etc" to a warning or defending themselves and in addition to a set of jaws built to crush tortoise shells (powerful, unrelenting bite).
I love Albigs, Ive been hooked since my first BT many years ago.

np

Shes over a year youger and 2 ft longer.