V. panoptes panoptes Cape Crwaford, NT

V. panoptes rubidus Wittenoom, WA

V. panoptes horni

Varanus panoptes with the subspecies is a member of the subgenera Varanus.
The main feature, which separates this species from V. gouldii is the existence of distinctive bright and dark round spots on the back, forming crossbands. This pattern forms alternating bands on the tail, which also is different to the tail pattern of V. gouldii. The subspecies V. p. rubidus has a monochromely yellow tip of the tail, similar to V. gouldii.
All members grow quite large and can reach a total length of 160 cm. Females of V. p. panoptes clearly remain smaller than males (SHINE 1986). Whether this also appears to the other subspecies is not described yet.

Varanus p. panoptes occurs in the northern parts of Australia. The distribution extends from the Kimberleys in the west across the Top End of the Northern Territory up to the western part for Cape York Peninsula in the east (STORR 1980, STORR et.al. 1983b, WILSON & KNOWLES 1988, HOSER 1989, COGGER 1992, EHMANN 1992). IRWIN et al. (1996) observed two animals which were foraging on the road during darkness (7.30 pm). Both monitors seemed to be on search for food at that time.
The distribution of Varanus p. rubidus is restricted from the area south of Broome across the Pilbara down to Kalbarri in Western Australia. The most eastern distribution might be the Great Victorian Desert in the center of the Western Australia (STORR 1980, STORR et.al. 1983b, COGGER 1992).
Varanus p. horni is found in the southern parts of New Guinea (BÖHME 1988b, 1991a).
On the Australian mainland V. p. panoptes and V. p. rubidus occur sympatric with V. gouldii (STORR 1980, STORR et.al. 1983b, WILSON & KNOWLES 1988, HOSER 1989, COGGER 1992, EHMANN 1992).