BLUETAIL MONITOR SKIN

The Blue-Tailed monitor has a white to yellow tongue that can be used in part to distinguish it from other Mangrove type monitors. In general, these patterns will become darker as the animal ages.

BLUETAIL MONITOR SKIN

It shows considerable amounts of grey, forming a messy net pattern on top of the black base but the yellow dorsal spots remain the same (see skin panel on the side). There is also another dorsal pattern that I've noticed on some specimens that looks more attractive than the yellow on black. The head is black, sometimes with verticle bands crossing the snout. The legs are speckled with yellow and blue and the belly (underside) is marbled. The limbs are powerful and well equiped for tree climbing with very sharp nails. The tail is typically 1.5 times longer than the body and is colored in blue for about the last three quarters of it. The base color is usually black with yellow spots that form bands or an irregular pattern on the dorsum (top). The color and pattern of Blue-Tailed monitors are all fairly similar with a few exceptions. By purchasing a CB (Captive Bred) instead of a WC (Wild Caught) monitor you have a better chance of getting a healthy animal. A captive bred monitor should always be the first choice when its available. If you look around you may also be able to purchase a captive bred Blue-Tailed monitor. I've had many monitors do well in captivity without a de-parasiting, but then its better to be safe than sorry. If the animal is in good shape and eating well when it arrives the vet check may not be entirely neccessary. These factors should be considered when designing an enclosure.īlue-Tailed monitors seen in the pet trade are usually wild caught and should be treated for parasites and bacterial infections by a qualified veteranarian if they arrive in bad shape. They are very good climbers and do show aquatic tendencies. These monitors inhabit forest regions where temperature and humidity are high. Varanus doreanus finschi may truly be its own species. Varanus doreanus finschi differs from the other form in that it possesses a white throat instead of the marbled pattern found on Varanus doreanus doreanus (Bennett, 1998). The later is found on New Britain and the Bismarck-Archipelago. There are two known variations of the Blue-Tailed monitor Varanus doreanus doreanus and Varanus doreanus finschi. This moderatly large varanid can be found in New Guinea as well as some of its surrounding islands. There are a few species in the Mangrove monitor complex that sport a blue tail during part or all of their lives but Varanus doreanus is the true Blue-Tailed monitor.

Bluetail monitor