Black-throated monitor
| Black-throated monitor | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Varanidae |
| Genus: | Varanus |
| Species: | V. albigularis |
| Subspecies: | V. a. microstictus |
| Trinomial name | |
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Varanus albigularis microstictus Laurent, 1964 |
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| Synonyms | |
The black-throated monitor (Varanus albigularis ionidesi ) is a subspecies of monitor lizard native to Tanzania.
V. a. ionidesi is usually a dark gray-brown with yellowish or white markings, and can reach up to seven feet (2 m) in length and weigh more than 60 pounds (27 kg). It is the largest of the four subspecies of the rock monitor, V. albigularis.
The generic name, Varanus, is derived from the Arabic word waral ورل, which is translated to English as "warn" or "warning."
The specific name, albigularis, comes from a compound of two Latin words: albus meaning "white" and gula meaning "throat".
The subspecific name, ionidesi, is in honor of Constantine John Philip Ionides (1901-1968), called the "Snake Man of British East Africa".
In captivity V. a. ionidesi feeds mainly on whole prey, such as mice, rats, snakes, lizards, freshwater mollusks, small birds, large roaches, crustaceans, fish, and eggs. Though these animals commonly accept cat and dog food, it is not acceptable as a staple diet due to an improper nutrient profile and high caloric content. In the wild, these monitors will eat anything they can catch.
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