Varanus kingorum STORR 1980
King's Rock Monitor
Varanus
kingorum is a member of the subgenera Odatria. With a total
length of 40 cm it is one of the smallest monitors. The ground color is
a reddish brown. The marking on the back consists of an irregular network
of black scales. The coloration of the underside is pale cream to white,
the belly and the throat show deep brown spots. The head scales are small
and smooth. 97-108 scale rows are around midbody. The nostril stands at
the side and is approximately in the middle between the tip of the snout
and the eye. The tail is pressed together moderately, except at the base
without symptoms of a keel on top. No markings are visible and it is about
2-2.7 times as long as the SVL. The scales on the top are slightly thorny.
This makes it possible for the monitor, to block himself in crevices to
get shelter from predators.
The
distribution of this monitor species is restricted to a very small area
in the far North of Western Australia and into the Northern Territory. There
it lives in rocky Spinifex country with some small sandstone outcrops, where
they can look for shelter during danger (STORR 1980,
STORR et al. 1983b, WILSON & KNOWLES 1988, HOSER 1989, COGGER 1992, EHMANN 1992). The food consists mainly on insects
(JAMES et al. 1992).
Only
little was known on captive husbandry in the past few years. Only at Gosford
Reptile Park, NSW, this monitor species was kept over a longer period and
also bred (HUSBAND, pers. comm.). Unfortunately, no
data were published.In the last time this monitor was bred several times in the USA (RETES, pers. comm.). Unfortunately, only few data are available. After my experience the size of the enclosure for King's Rock Monitor should be moderate being furnished for a rock dweller. For this reason, we build some artificial rock on the rear and the side of the enclosure, so that the animals can climb. Some well accessible hiding-places complete the furnishing. Sand is used as substrate.
In the wild the food consists of small insects and spiders, which they overpower during their brief surveys through the crevices (JAMES et al. 1992). We offer them these food items in the enclosure too.
In the last few years I collected some data in keeping and breeding this small monitor.The clutch size can reach up to five eggs, which are proportionally large. One egg meassueres about 24 mm in length and has 8 mm in diameter. The incubation period is between 106 and 119 days at an incubation temperature between 27 and 29°C.
The young animals have an average SVL of 50 mm (48-53 mm) when they hatch and a total length of 140 mm (136 -145 mm.) The weight of the offspring is between 1.8 g and 2.1 g. The raising of the youngsters together in one enclosure is not a problem. After some days the animals accept already small crickets dusted with vitamin mineral powder. Till now, no biting could still be observed. Already after about 6 months the offspring could start their first egg-laying (EIDENMÜLLER 1999).
A very uncommon baby hatched in 2002 (EIDENMÜLLER 2003). From the three eggs, two babies hatched with regular color and pattern, but the third one showed a very light color. The hatching data were the same as in the other babies. This "albino"-like animal developed good, and in July 2003, 343 days after hatching, this animal laid its first clutch.
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