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Revised Taxonomy of the Varanus (Odatria) timorensis Species Complex (Squamata: Varanidae) from the Timor Archipelago: Two New Microendemic Taxa from the Islands of Kisar and Ndao

Markus Patschke, André Koch, Andreas Schmitz, Wolfgang Böhme

Abstract


We review the taxonomy of the Varanus (Odatria) timorensis species complex occurring in the Timor archipelago, reassess the status of Varanus (Odatria) auffenbergi and describe two new insular taxa: Varanus (Odatria) delcantoi sp. nov. from Kisar Island, and Varanus (Odatria) timorensis subunicolor ssp. nov. from Ndao Island. Due to their restricted distribution ranges which are the smallest among all varanids, these microinsular endemics are threatened by habitat destruction and by the international pet trade so that effective conservation measures are needed. The two new monitor lizard taxa add to the high degree of threatened endemics of the Wallacea biodiversity hotspot.

Keywords


Varanus; new species and subspecies; Timor archipelago; Lesser Sunda Islands; Maluku Province; Indonesia; conservation

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2025-32-4-256-272

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