Varanus bushi courtesy of G. Thompson

Varanus bushi

Varanus bushi is a member of the subgenera Odatria. This species looks like an integrade between V. gilleni and V. caudolineatus, but it is distinguishable from these taxa on genetic and morphological criteria.
V. bushi is close related to both V. caudolineatus and V. gilleni. The three species seem to build a small group within the subgenera Odatria, the so called V. caudolineatus-group. The size of V. bushi is larger than the size of V. caudolineatus, but significantly smaller than the size of V. gilleni. The SVL is up to 145 mm and the total length is up to 350 mm. The coloration on the back is pale-brown with irregular black spots, forming some indistinct bands across the back. The tail is round in cross section with distinct cross bands on the first half. The rest of the tail shows longitudinal stripes, like V. caudolineatus.

The distribution of this newly described V. bushi is restricted to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is closely associated with Mulga woodland, where it lives in trees. In some parts of the distribution it occurs in sympatry with V. caudolineatus, but it is widely separated from known populations of V. gilleni (APLIN et al. 2006).

Nothing has been published on captive husbandry of V. bushi yet. But in my opinion these animals should be housed in a similar manner to V. gilleni. An enclosure for tree monitors with several branches and cork tubes would be essential.