This monitor species Varanus yuwonoi from Halmahera Islands, Indonesia, belongs to the subgenera Euprepiosaurus. Animals of this species can grow up to about 150 cm in total length. The tail is about 1.6 times as long as SVL.
The coloration of the head is sulphur yellow latterally to yellow green dorsally, the neck is black, four large blotches are seen on the side of the neck. Caudal two thirds of the body and the hind legs are finely speckled in black and turquoise or green; dorsally scales green and grading to turquoise on flanks, sides of shanks, and toes. The base of the tail is yellowish green to pistachio dorsally grading to blue latterally and posteriorly, completely cerulean to true blue; bands on tail cobalt with irregular deposition of melanophores. 174 scales are around midbody (HARVEY & BARKER 1998).

Varanus yowonoi is currently known only from the type locality Jailolo on Halmahera Island. Around this small township some steep slopes of the foothills of the central mountains are densely forested with canopied rainforest. Along roads in this area, the forest is disturbed and has some clear-cut areas. In this areas the type specimen were collected (HARVEY & BARKER 1998).