Dampier Peninsula monitor

The Dampier Peninsula monitor or Dampier Peninsula goanna (Varanus sparnus), described in 2014, is the smallest known species of monitor lizard, growing up to 16.3 grams with a length of almost 23 cm and a SVL (snout to vent length) of 116 mm. It is believed to live only on the Dampier Peninsula of the Kimberley region north of Broome and Derby in Western Australia. It is highly active, making it difficult to photograph in the wild. It has short legs, an elongate body, a reddish-brown back with widely scattered black spots and "a ridged, circular and short prehensile tail."^[2][3]

"sparnos is Greek for 'rare' or 'scarce' in reference to this species' isolation and small range on the Dampier Peninsula. Latinised to sparnus, and used as an adjective".^[2]

Dampier Peninsula monitor
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Sarcopterygii
Clade:	Tetrapodomorpha
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Varanidae
Genus:	Varanus
Subgenus:	Odatria
Species:	V. sparnus
Binomial name
Varanus sparnus Doughty, Kealley, Fitch & Donnellan, 2014[2]

Taxonomy

Described in 2014 and assigned to the genus Varanus, lizards known as monitors and goannas. The specimens were obtained in a location at the Dampier Peninsula in 2009.^[4]

Description

The smallest living monitor lizard species.^[4]

Distribution

Restricted to rocky habitat in the northwest of Western Australia.^[4]