Monitor lizards
Missing image Goanna.jpg An Australian lace monitor (Varanus varius) on a tree.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Sauria Family: Varanidae Genus: Varanus
Species
Many, see text.

Monitor lizards are the family Varanidae, a group of lizards which includes the largest living lizard, the Komodo Dragon. Varanidae contains only a single genus: Varanus.

In Australia monitor lizards are known as goannas (See main article).

Origin of Name

It has been said that the name of monitor lizards is derived from a superstition that the creatures would give a warning about the presence of crocodiles. However, this explanation may be apocryphal. According to Wildwatch (http://www.wildwatch.com/resources/other/monitors.asp), the name actually resulted from a mishearing of the Arabic word oaran (lizard) as the German warnen (to warn), which was subsequently Latinized into monitor.

Classification

Genus Varanus

• Varanus acanthurus: Spiny-tailed goanna or Ridge-tailed monitor
• Varanus albigularis: White-throated monitor
• Varanus auffenbergi
• Varanus baritji
• Varanus beccarii
• Varanus bengalensis
• Varanus bogerti
• Varanus brevicauda Short-tailed monitor
• Varanus caerulivirens
• Varanus caudolineatus
• Varanus cerambonensis
• Varanus doreanus
• Varanus dumerilii
• Varanus eremius
• Varanus exanthematicus: Savannah monitor
• Varanus finschi
• Varanus flavescens: Yellow monitor
• Varanus giganteus: the Perentie
• Varanus gilleni Pygmy mulga goanna
• Varanus glauerti
• Varanus glebopalma
• Varanus gouldii Sand goanna (also Gould's goanna, or Ground goanna)
• Varanus griseus
• Varanus indicus
• Varanus jobiensis
• Varanus juxtindicus
• Varanus keithhornei
• Varanus kingorum
• Varanus komodoensis: Komodo Dragon
• Varanus mabitang
• Varanus macraei
• Varanus melinus
• Varanus mertensi: Mertens' water monitor
• Varanus mitchelli
• Varanus nebulosus
• Varanus niloticus: Nile monitor
• Varanus olivaceus
• Varanus ornatus
• Varanus panoptes
• Varanus pilbarensis
• Varanus prasinus: Emerald monitor
• Varanus primordius
• Varanus rosenbergi
• Varanus rudicollis: Roughneck monitor
• Varanus salvadorii: Crocodile monitor
• Varanus salvator: Water monitor
• Varanus scalaris
• Varanus semiremex Mangrove goanna
• Varanus spenceri
• Varanus spinulosus
• Varanus storri
• Varanus telenesetes
• Varanus timorensis: Timor tree monitor or Timor monitor
• Varanus tristis Mournful tree monitor
• Varanus varius: Lace monitor
• Varanus yemenensis
• Varanus yuwonoi

de:Warane nl:Varaan