V. semiremex courtesy of M. Ebert

Varanus semiremex is a member of the subgenera Odatria. The coloration on top is grayish brown with numerous scattered blackish spots and dots, which form a soft reticulation on the back. The coloration on the underside is white or cream-colored. The head scales are small, irregular and smooth. The nostril is situated at the side, slightly closer to the eye than to the tip of the snout. 85-105 scale rows are around midbody. The tail is round in diameter at the base. The last two thirds are slightly but recognizable pushed together. A keel is clearly visible. Its length is approximately 1.6 times as long as SVL. The total length of the monitor can reach about 60 cm.

The distribution of V. semiremex is restricted to the east coast of Queensland (MERTENS 1942d, 1958, KEAST 1959, WORRELL 1966, BUSTARD 1968, SWANSON 1976, WILSON & KNOWLES 1988, HOSER 1989, COGGER 1992, EHMANN 1992). MERTENS (1961) described V. semiremex after one speciemen, which was caught in the proximity of the Ord River in Western Australia. However, no further speciemen of this species was caught there. Therefore it must have been a speciemen of V. mitchelli and the Rusty Monitor does not occur outside of Queensland.
It has to be found at the coast and the surrounding river systems of the eastern and northern Queensland. V. semiremex lives normally in hollow branches in the mangroves along the brackish water belt there. However, he also was found in the vegetation along fresh water rivers and marshes.
The food consists mainly of the various animals. Fishes, frogs and insects form the major diet (JAMES et al. 1992). However, crabs with which he gets away in the mangroves form his preferential diet. An unusual feature makes the use of this special food possible to this species. Glands which eliminates the salt taken with the food sit in the nose area (DUNSON 1974).