The Black Throat Monitor is a sub-species of Rock Monitor that is native to parts of Africa. They are one of the largest lizards in the world.
Black Throat Monitor Taxonomy
The Black Throat Monitor belongs to the Varanidae family of lizards. This family contains only one genus of living lizards. There are two extinct genera associated with this family, Ovoo and Saniwa.
The remaining genus, and the genus that the Black Throat Monitor belongs to is called Varanus. This is essentially the genus of Monitor Lizards, which are native to Africa, Asia and Oceania.
This is a large genus of lizard that contains over 60 different species including some of the largest lizards in the world such as the Komodo Dragon and Nile Monitor.
The genus name, Varanus is derived from the Arabic word ‘waral’ which simply translates into Monitor.
They are considered a sub-species of the Rock Monitor. The scientific name for this species is Varanus albigularis. The sub-species name for the Black Throat Monitor is Varanus albigularis microstictus.
The Rock Monitor is the second longest lizard native to Africa, behind only the Nile Monitor. However, this lizard is more heavily built and is the largest in terms of mass.
There are four sub-species of Rock Monitor. The nominate species is called the White Throat Monitor. The other three include the Angolan White Throat Monitor, the Eastern White Throat Monitor and the Black Throat Monitor.
Black Throat Monitor Description
The Black Throat Monitor is a large species of lizard that can grow up to 7ft in length. They are the second largest species of Lizard in Africa in terms of length and the largest in terms of mass.
They are a powerful lizard that can weigh over 25kg (60 pound). They are the largest of the 4 sub-species of Rock Monitor.
It is is dark brown or dark grey in color. This background color is over laid with white or yellow markings. These markings can vary in size and intensity from specimen to specimen.
The markings on these lizards typically fade as the lizard ages but can usually still be seen. The markings are typically larger and more spaced out on the back of the monitor.
The markings on the sides and legs of the Monitor are typically smaller and more frequent. They can also have markings on their tail which sometimes appears in the form of bands.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Black Throat Monitor is native to the drier regions of East Africa. Its range is cut off by the jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
They can be found in countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi.
This is a large terrestrial lizard that lives in a number of different habitats. However, they do not live in True Deserts or Rainforests. They prefer habitats such as Savannas, Prairies and Steppes.
Black Throat Monitor Diet
The Black Throat Monitor is an opportunistic feeder and will eat almost anything it can catch and overpower. They will feed on rodents, small mammals, lizards, snakes and even large insects.
These lizards are known to roam large distances in search of food. However, in the drier season when food and water is scarce, they will stay closer to home in order to conserve energy.
In captivity, people often feed their Monitor tinned dog or cat food. This is ok as part of a balanced diet but should never be used as a replacement for other sources of food.
Reproduction
The Black Throat Monitor typically breeds at the start of the dry season. The male and female can stay together for a number of days as part of the breeding process.
Once the eggs are laid, they can take months to hatch. The female will often dig a hole at the end of a termite nest and lay her eggs there. This ensures that they remain at the correct temperature and humidity.
Damp soil is another common nesting site for these lizards. Clutch sizes can vary considerably but they can lay over 30 eggs at a time.
The eggs typically hatch during the wet season when food and water is plentiful. This gives the babies the best chance to survive.