Dumeril's monitor (Varanus dumerilii)[6] is a species of lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.
The specific name, dumerilii, is in honour of the French zoologist André Marie Constant Duméril.[7]
In Thailand, V. dumerilii is known by the common name, túdtū̀ (ตุ๊ดตู่), which is an animal that appeared in children's folk songs.[8]
Dumeril's monitor is found in southern Burma and north of the Isthmus of Kra to Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand,[9] as well as in Peninsular Malaysia, throughout Borneo, Sumatra, Riau, Bangka–Belitung and other smaller islands of Indonesia.[5]
The preferred habitat of V. dumerilii is dense evergreen forests with high humidity [10] and mangrove swamps,[11] at altitudes from sea level to 900 m (3,000 ft).[2]
V. dumerilii is a crab specialist;[9][12] however, it has been observed eating snails, other molluscs, insects, fish, frogs, turtle eggs, birds, and smaller rodents.[11][13] Little is known overall about this species compared to other monitor lizards.[14]
Adult Dumeril's monitors are largely dark brown, with occasional brighter indistinct crossbars. For juveniles the colors and patterns are quite different. "The major color is a dark varnish black which is interrupted by several yellow crossways bars on the back." The head of juveniles is shiny orange-red or sometimes yellow. This juvenile coloration disappears after only 4–8 weeks.[14] Adult Dumeril's monitors can reach up to 4.5 ft (1.4 m) in total length (including tail) although typical total length is 4 ft (1.2 m).
V. dumerilii is arboreal and diurnal.[2]
V. dumerilii is oviparous.[5] Clutch size is 4–23 eggs.[2] Hatchlings have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 8 cm (3.1 in), and a tail slightly longer than SVL.[2]
There are two described subspecies:
Note: Sprackland made V. d. heteropholis a synonym of V. d. dumerilii.[15]
Dumeril's monitor (Varanus dumerilii) is a species of lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.
