TY  - JOUR
A1  - Koch, André
A1  - Gaulke, Maren
A1  - Böhme, Wolfgang
T1  - Unravelling the underestimated diversity of Philippine water monitor lizards (Squamata: Varanus salvator complex) : with the description of two new species and a new subspecies
T2  - Zootaxa
N2  - Recently, the first part of the morphological revision of the Southeast Asian water monitor lizards of the Varanus salvator (Laurenti, 1768) species group provided a taxonomic overview over the members of this successful and widespread species complex (Koch et al. 2007). There, the Philippine taxa marmoratus, nuchalis and cumingi were reelevated to species status due to diagnostic morphological characteristics, e.g. significantly enlarged scales on the neck region. In this second part of the ongoing revision, these three species are re-investigated using additional voucher specimens and advanced statistical techniques including canonical variates analysis and principal component analysis. Our new investigations indicate that V. marmoratus represents a composite species, comprising at least three distinct taxa. Hence, the populations of the Sulu Archipelago (Tawi-Tawi Island) and those of the Palawan region are described as new species, viz. Varanus rasmusseni sp. nov. and V. palawanensis sp. nov., respectively. The allopatric island populations of V. cumingi inhabiting Samar, Leyte, and Bohol (the East Visayan subregion) show characteristic and geographically correlated colour patterns distinct from the type locality Mindanao (the second subregion of Greater Mindanao), warranting subspecific partition of this species. The new subspecies is named V. cumingi samarensis ssp. nov. In contrast, the taxonomic status of V. nuchalis remained unchanged, although this species shows some considerable variation in colour pattern. The systematic chapters are supplemented with notes about biology and conservation status. The hitherto underestimated diversity and zoogeography of Philippine water monitors is discussed in the light of Pleistocene sea level fluctuations. Finally, we introduce a scenario for the evolution and spread of Southeast Asian water monitor lizards and provide an identification key for the Philippine members of the V. salvatoI' complex.
KW  - Varanidae
KW  - Varanus c. cumingi
KW  - V. armingi samarensis ssp. nov.
KW  - V. marmoratus
KW  - V. nuchalis
KW  - V. rasmusseni sp. nov.
KW  - V. palawanensis sp. nov.
Y1  - 2010
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/14297
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30-1150218
SN  - 1175-5326
SN  - 1175-5334
N1  - Signatur: SZq 4646
IS  - 2446
SP  - 1
EP  - 54
PB  - Magnolia Press
CY  - Auckland, NZ
ER  -