Dumeril's monitor
In Thai: ตุ๊ดตู่, tud dtoo
Binomial name: Varanus dumerilii, Hermann Schlegel, 1839
Dumeril's monitor (Varanus dumerilii) is a species of lizard, endemic to Southeast Asia. It is a member of the family Varanidae.
Etymology
The specific name, dumerilii, is a Latinized form of the name of the scientist who first described this species, French herpetologist André Marie Constant Duméril.
Geographic range
Dumeril's monitor is found in southern Burma and north of the Isthmus of Kra to Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand, as well as in Peninsular Malaysia, throughout Borneo, Sumatra, Riau, Bangka–Belitung and other smaller islands of Indonesia.
Their habitat is dense evergreen forests with high humidity and mangrove swamps.
Diet
This monitor is a crab specialist; however, it has been observed eating snails, insects, molluscs, fish, frogs, and smaller rodents. Little is known overall about this species compared to other monitor lizards.
Description
Adult Dumeril's monitors are largely dark coffee-brown in colour, with occasional brighter indistinct crossbars. For juveniles the colors and patterns are quite different. "The major color is a dark varnish black which is interrupted by several yellow crossways bars on the back." Juveniles have shiny orange red or, sometimes yellow heads. This youth coloration disappears after only 4–8 weeks. Adult Dumeril's can reach up to 4.5 m in total length (including tail) although typical length is 4 m long.
Subspecies
There are two described subspecies:
- Varanus dumerilii dumerilii
- Varanus dumerilii heteropholis
Note: Sprackland made V. d. heteropholis a synonym of V. d. dumerilii
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Scientific classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Suborder
- Lacertilia
- Family
- Varanidae
- Genus
- Varanus
- Species
- Varanus dumerilii
Common names
- German: Dumerilwaran
- English: Dumeril monitor
- Thai:
- ตุ๊ดตู่, tud dtoo
- เห่าช้างขาว, hao chang kao
Subspecies
Varanus dumerilii dumerilii, Hermann Schlegel, 1839
Range: Thailand, Myanmar, West Malaysia, Indonesia, Sarawak, Singapore
Varanus dumerilii heteropholis, George Albert Boulenger, 1892
Range: Sarawak, Malaysia
Synonyms
- Varanus (Empagusia) dumerilii, André Koch (2013)
- Varanus dumerilii, Eric Rodger Pianka & Laurie Joseph Vitt (2003)
- Varanus dumerilii, Merel J. Cox et al. (1998)
- Varanus (Empagusia) dumerilii, Thomas Ziegler & Wolfgang Böhme (1997)
- Varanus dumerilii, Ulrich Manthey & Wolfgang Grossmann (1997)
- Varanus dumerili dumerilii, H.F. De Lisle (1996)
- Varanus dumerili heteropholis, H.F. De Lisle (1996)
- Varanus dumerili heteropholis, Robert Mertens (1942)
- Varanus (Tectovaranus) dumerilii dumerilii, Robert Mertens (1942)
- Varanus dumerili, Nelly de Rooij (1915)
- Varanus heteropholis, Nelly de Rooij (1915)
- Varanus heteropholis, George Albert Boulenger (1892)
- Varanus dumerilii, George Albert Boulenger (1885)
- Varanus macrolepis, William Thomas Blanford (1881)
- Varanus dumerili, Pieter Bleeker (1858)
- Varanus dumerilii, Pieter Bleeker (1858)
- Varanus dumerili dumerilii, Hermann Schlegel (1839)
- Monitor dumerilii, Hermann Schlegel (1839)
Range Map

- Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary
- Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
- Khao Banthat Wildlife Sanctuary
- Khao Nan National Park
- Khao Phra - Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary
- Khao Pu - Khao Ya National Park
- Khao Sok National Park
- Na Yong District, Trang
- Sai Yok National Park
- Tai Rom Yen National Park
- Thap Put District, Phang Nga
- Thong Pha Phum National Park