Varanus similis
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| Varanus similis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Anguimorpha |
| Family: | Varanidae |
| Genus: | Varanus |
| Subgenus: | Odatria |
| Species: | V. similis |
| Binomial name | |
| Varanus similis Mertens, 1958 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Varanus similis, known commonly as the Similis monitor or spotted tree monitor, is a small species of monitor lizard found in Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.[1][2][3]
It was originally described as a subspecies of the Timor monitor (Varanus timorensis similis) by German herpetologist Robert Mertens in 1958. It was described as a separate species by Hans-Peter Berghof in 2001, with the type locality being Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory.
Its specific name comes from the Latin similis, presumably in reference to its anatomical and physical similarity to the Timor monitor and the Banded tree monitor. The three species are often considered to be conspecific with one another.[1][3]