Spiny-tailed monitor

Spiny-tailed Monitor
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Scleroglossa
Family:	Varanidae
Genus:	Varanus
Species:	V. acanthurus
Binomial name
Varanus acanthurus Boulenger, 1885

The Spiny-tailed Monitor or Ridge-tailed Monitor (Varanus acanthurus) is a small species of monitor lizard. They are native to Northwestern Australia and live in a variety of habitats from arid to tropical regions. Spiny-tailed Monitors are usually a reddish brown with yellow markings but color and pattern can vary with geographic origin. A distinctive feature is their thick spined tail - hence their common name. The Ridge-tail will scramble into loose rocks or boulders and use its tail to wedge itself in tight. The spikes give the tail good grip on the rocks, making extraction by other predators nearly impossible. In the species' home territory, the tail is often found discarded near Ridge-tail carcasses, indicating that predators of this species consider the tail inedible.

Their diet consists mainly of insects and small lizards.

In captivity

Ridge tailed monitors are one of the more common variants seen in captivity today both in their country of origin and around the world. This is mainly due to their small size, ease of care and availability. As their size and care requirements are very similar to Bearded Dragons, they are considered an appropriate choice for beginning reptile keepers. In captivity this species will thrive if given optimum conditions which are simple to provide if you have the right equipment. A 4x2x2 ft enclosure would comfortably hold an adult pair for the duration of their life however any additionally room will be utilised. These monitors burrow in the wild, and need a very deep substrate which they can burrow in without collapse. The substrate should be a dirt/sand mixture which retains water well. It should be between 12 and 16 inches deep. Feeding should be at least daily for the first year, where individuals are offered as much as they will eat over a 14-20 minute period. These monitors will attain a full grown size at around 1.5 to 2 years of age, usually between 18 to 24 inches. These monitors are very social and do not do well alone, so it is best to purchase a pair or trio. They also are believed to have the ability to choose sex depending on the dominance of the group, never a male heavy ratio.

Subspecies

Several subspecies have been recognised:

• Varanus acanthurus acanthurus, Common Ridge-Tailed Montor, or Red Ackie
• Varanus acanthurus brachyurus, Common Ridge-tailed Monitor, or Yellow Ackie
• Varanus acanthurus insulanicus, Island Ridge-tailed Monitor

References and links

• http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/tbiol/zoology/herp/Varanusacanthurus.PDF
• http://www.kingsnake.com/acanthurus/
• http://www.tailswithscales.com/caresheets/varanids/ackies

Zoos with Spiny-Tailed Monitors

Zoo	Male(s)	Female(s)	Unknown	Born in the last year	Total
Almaty State Zoo of Kazakhstan	0	0	1	0	1
Zoologischer Garten Augsburg GmbH	1	0	0	0	1
North of England Zoological Society	3	2	0	0	5
Parc Zoologique d'Amneville	1	1	1	0	3
Kristiansand Dyrepark ASA	0	0	1	0	1
Espace Zoologique de St-Martin-la-Plai	0	0	3	0	3
Moscow Zoological Park	1	1	0	0	2
Westfalischer Zoologischer Gtn Munster	1	0	0	0	1
Rotterdam Zoo	1	0	2	0	3
Dierenpark De Oliemeulen (Zoo Tilburg)	1	1	5	0	7
Terrarium Vissenbjerg	1	1	1	0	3
Aspro Parks Canarias (Palmitos Park)	0	1	0	0	1
National Aquarium in Baltimore Inc	1	4	4	0	9
Cheyenne Mtn Zoological Park	2	0	0	0	2
Adelaide Zoo	0	1	0	0	1
Dreamworld Pty Ltd	0	0	7	2	7
Healesville Sanctuary	1	2	0	0	3
Melbourne Zoo	2	0	0	0	2
Blackbrook Zoological Park	0	0	4	0	4
Schoenbrunner Tiergarten GmbH	0	0	0	4	4
Audubon Zoo	1	2	0	0	3
Chaffee Zoological Gardens of Fresno	1	1	0	1	2
Utah's Hogle Zoo	0	0	2	0	2
San Antonio Zoological Gardens & Aquarium	0	1	0	0	1
San Diego Zoo	1	0	0	0	1
Saint Louis Zoological Park	0	0	1	0	1