Post by Ceratodromeus on Jan 5, 2016 8:27:53 GMT 5
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: Psammosaurus
Species: V. Nesterovi
Description
This is a mid sized monitor lizard of the Varanus griseus complex. The holotype specimen was long regarded to be a specimen of the V.g. caspius subspecies, but has now been 'rescued' from synonymy, and is easily distinguishable from that subspecies of desert monitor. It is a desert dwelling species (hence the common name) endemic to the Iraq/Iran region. The head is large and robust in proportions, and the neck has a series of small tubercles running to about the nape. The holotype, a juvenile male(ZISP 23200), measured 277mm in snout-ventral length, and the three paratype animals (ZISP 11752.1, ZISP 11752.2, USNM 160302) range from 273-501mm in snout ventral length.
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A NEW SPECIES OF DESERT MONITOR LIZARD (VARANIDAE:Varanus: Psammosaurus) FROM THE WESTERN ZAGROS REGION (IRAQ,IRAN)
Abstract
We describe a new species of desert monitor lizard from the western and southwestern foothills of the Zagros Mountains. From Varanus griseus and its nominal subspecies V.g.griseus, V.g.caspius, and V.g.koniecznyi it is easily distinguishable by its stout head shape, the shape and position of the nostril, an extremely rough and spiny neck scalation, a laterally compressed tail with a double-keeled dorsal crest throughout its length, a nearly uniformly colored dorsum and an unpatterned light yellowish distal half of tail. Geographically, the new species seems to be restricted to the western and southwestern margin of the Zagros Mountain range and seems to prefer medium altitudes between 500 and 1100ma.s.l. The new species renders the current subgenus Psammosaurus as consisting of more than one single living species
