# Rusty desert monitor > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rusty_desert_monitor > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rusty_desert_monitor.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_desert_monitor > Source revision: 1315177118 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Species of lizard Rusty desert monitor Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Anguimorpha Family: Varanidae Genus: Varanus Subgenus: Odatria Species: V. eremius Binomial name Varanus eremius Lucas & Frost, 1895[2][3] The **rusty desert monitor** (***Varanus eremius***)[4] is a [species](/source/Species) of small [monitor lizards](/source/Monitor_lizard) native to [Australia](/source/Australia). It is also known as the **pygmy desert monitor**.[5] The monitor lizard belongs to the [subgenus](/source/Subgenus) *Odatria* along with the [pygmy mulga monitor](/source/Varanus_gilleni).[3][6] This monitor lizard is [oviparous](/source/Oviparous) as with other monitor lizards.[7] ## Taxonomy A description of the species was presented to the [Royal Society of Victoria](/source/Royal_Society_of_Victoria) in 1895 by [Arthur H. S. Lucas](/source/Arthur_Henry_Shakespeare_Lucas) and [Charles Frost](/source/Charles_Frost_(naturalist)).[2] ## Distribution *Varanus eremius* is the most widespread of the pygmy goannas. It lives in [desert](/source/Desert) and semidesert areas of [South Australia](/source/South_Australia), [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia), and the [Northern Territory](/source/Northern_Territory). Its [range](/source/Range_(biology)) possibly includes [Queensland](/source/Queensland), as well.;[8][9] Storr & Harold 1980). ## Description The rusty desert monitor reaches a total length of about 50 cm.[3] The colouration of this monitor lizard on the upper side is light to dark reddish-brown with numerous, irregularly distributed, black or deep-brown spots. Sometimes, smaller [primrose](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Primrose_(color)&action=edit&redlink=1) or cream-colored spots are present. Its tail shows alternating cream-colored and deep-brown longitudinal stripes, which are often broken up into scattered spots at the tail base. A conspicuous black stripe occurs from the [snout](/source/Snout) to the eye.[3] ## Behaviour This species spends its life [on the ground](/source/Cursorial) and seldom climbs [trees](/source/Tree). No successful breeding in [captivity](/source/Captivity_(animal)) has yet been reported.[3] ### Diet Stomach contents indicate the diet by volume of the rusty desert monitor consists mainly of other lizards (76%), especially *[Ctenotus](/source/Ctenotus)*.[10] The remainder of animals eaten by this monitor include large [grasshoppers](/source/Grasshopper) and occasional [scorpions](/source/Scorpion), [centipedes](/source/Centipede), [cockroaches](/source/Cockroach) and [caterpillars](/source/Caterpillar).[11][12] ### Parasites As a result of a diet of primarily lizard prey, which are hosts for [physalopteran](/source/Physaloptera) [nematodes](/source/Nematode), this species in the wild has a higher prevalence and intensity of larval cysts in the stomach tissue and body cavity than any other species of monitor lizard. However, the development of worms are arrested in a cystic stage in *V. eremius*, reducing the burden of adult worms on the host's body.[10] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-iucn_status_20_November_2021_1-0)** Shea, G.; Wilson, S.; Oliver, P. (2018). ["*Varanus eremius*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/83777752/101752305). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2018** e.T83777752A101752305. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T83777752A101752305.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T83777752A101752305.en). Retrieved 20 November 2021. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lucas1895_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lucas1895_2-1) Lucas, A.H.S.; Frost., C. (1895). ["Preliminary notice of certain new species of lizards from central Australia"](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/4562). *Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria*. **7**: 264–269. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-first_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-first_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-first_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-first_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-first_3-4) ["Monitor-lizards.net"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100519024154/http://www.monitor-lizards.net/species/odatria/eremius.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.monitor-lizards.net/species/odatria/eremius.html) on 19 May 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Uniprot.org](https://www.uniprot.org/taxonomy/62040) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [JCVI.org](http://jcvi.org/reptiles/species.php?genus=Varanus&species=eremius) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Kingsnake.com](http://www.kingsnake.com/monitor/species.html) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [arod.com.au](http://www.arod.com.au/arod/reptilia/Squamata/Varanidae/Varanus/eremius) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Pianka, E. R. (1968). Notes on the biology of Varanus eremius. West. Aust. Nat. 11: 39-44 1968; Houston 1978; 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Storr G M (1980). The monitor lizards (genus Varanus Merrem, 1820) of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 8(2) 1980: 237-293. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_10-1) Jones, Hugh I. (2010). ["Dwarf monitor lizards (Varanidae:Varanus, Odatria s. gen.) as definitive and paratenic hosts for physalopteran nematodes"](http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=ZO09122). *Australian Journal of Zoology*. **58** (2): 69. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1071/ZO09122](https://doi.org/10.1071%2FZO09122). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0004-959X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0004-959X). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [UTtexas.edu](http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~varanus/Veremius.html) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Varanus Eremius"](https://biocyclopedia.com/index/monitor_lizards/varanus_eremius.php). - [Mampam.com](http://www.mampam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=76) (Retrieved Aug. 10, 2010) Taxon identifiers Varanus eremius Wikidata: Q3011587 Wikispecies: Varanus eremius ADW: Varanus_eremius AFD: Varanus_eremius CoL: 7FGDV EoL: 790190 GBIF: 2470766 iNaturalist: 39457 IRMNG: 10639576 ITIS: 716510 IUCN: 83777752 NCBI: 62040 Observation.org: 104372 Paleobiology Database: 374202 RD: eremius Species+: 4765 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rusty desert monitor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_desert_monitor) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_desert_monitor?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.