The peach-throated monitor (Varanus jobiensis), also known commonly as the Sepik monitor, is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is native to New Guinea.
Varanus jobiensis belongs to the subgenus Euprepiosaurus, which includes species such as the blue-tailed monitor and mangrove monitor, both of which it is sympatric with in much of its range.
It is likely that this species is actually a species complex of multiple different species that have been diverging since the Pliocene, and diverged from the V. indicus species complex 4.7 million years ago. [5]
Varanus jobiensis is endemic to New Guinea and surrounding islands such as Biak, Salawati, Yapen, Normanby, and Waigeo.[5] It occurs in rainforests at altitudes of 0–900 m (0–2,953 ft).[1]
Varanus jobiensis grows up to 120 centimetres (3.9 ft) in total length (including tail). The colour of the throat is white-yellow to red, to which one of its common names refers.
Varanus jobiensis primarily eats insects, and sometimes frogs,[5] but may also take freshwater fish and small mammals.[6]
Varanus jobiensis is hunted for human consumption in New Guinea.[7]
Varanus jobiensis is oviparous.[4]
The specific name, jobiensis, which is Latin, means "from Jobi". Jobi is the island also known as Yapen, which is the type locality of this species.[4]
The junior synonym, Varanus karlschmidti, was named in honor of American herpetologist Karl Patterson Schmidt.[8]
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Varanus jobiensis in Raja Ampat Papua, 2017
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Varanus jobiensis in Raja Ampat Papua, 2017
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Varanus jobiensis on wall
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Varanus jobiensis in Raja Ampat Papua, 2017
The peach-throated monitor (Varanus jobiensis), also known commonly as the Sepik monitor, is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is native to New Guinea.
