Kimberley Rock monitor (Varanus glauerti)

Common Name: Kimberley Rock monitor

Scientific Name: Varanus glauerti (Mertens - 1957)

Distribution: Northern Australia (Northern Territory) and a couple of islands of the North Australian coast.

Surroundings: Rocky areas, trees and areas with lots of hiding places like branches and leaves lying around on the ground.

Habitat: Tropical and subtropical.

Length: 60 - 80 cm.

Pattern and color: The animals living in the southern part of their distribution area have a more yellow color compared to the animals living in the northern part of their distribution range.

Sex determination: The males have some larger, bumpy clusters of spines on both sides of the tail base. These spines are lots smaller and not as bumpy on females.

Enclosure size: Advised: 0,5 m² for a pair.

Animals per enclosure: The animals can be kept in small groups. They seem to tolerate each other (same and opposite sex) very well.

Temperature: Daytime gradient: 25º - 32º Celsius

Daytime baskingspot: 35º - 50º Celsius

Nighttime: +18º Celsius

Diet: Insects, small reptiles (mainly small lizards) and small mammals.

Remarks: This is absolutely one of the most beautiful Australian dwarf species with a very stretched long body and beautiful color/pattern. In this species the tail can measure well over twice its body length. An animal with a 20 cm body can measure over 60 cm in total.


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