Class Reptilia Suborder Lacertilia Scientific name Varanus baritji | Phylum Chordata Family Varanidae Rank Species | |
Similar Pilbara monitor, Mitchell's water monitor, Short‑tailed monitor, Black‑palmed rock monitor, Rennell Island monitor | ||
The black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor, Varanus baritji, is a medium-sized ground dwelling monitor lizard. It is also known as White’s ridged-tailed monitor or White's dwarf goanna. It is found in the northernmost part of the Northern Territory of Australia.
The species name of this lizard, baritj, is an Australian aboriginal word for white, as the lizard is named after its discoverer, Dr. Neville White.
Description
This monitor lizard is spiny. It is similar to Varanus acanthurus in appearance, but differs in colour patterns. For example, V. baritji has a bright-yellow underside, but lacks the light and dark dorsal neck stripes and the light ocellated markings on its back for which V. acanthurus is known. The black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor can reach up to 72 cm in length.