Varanus ornatus ( Daudin, 1803 )

Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, Zoosystema 37 (2), pp. 381-402 : 396-397

Varanus ornatus ( Daudin, 1803)

Tupinambis ornatus Daudin, 1803: 353 .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 10 specimens: Togo. Bismarkburg (Adélé), 16105, 11269, 13832, 53511-53513 and 12253 ; Misa-Höhe, ZMB 53522 and 29003 .

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This species was considered as a form of V. niloticus until Böhme & Ziegler (1997) clarified its taxonomic

status. In Togo, it is found in the forests of ecological zone IV, as well as in the coastal marshlands and swamps and in the mangrove swamps. Its presence in Togo was first mentioned by Matschie (1891), and later by Tornier (1901) and Mertens (1942a-c) from Bismarkburg (Adélé) and Sebbe (Zébé actually Aného), under the synonymy of Varanus niloticus . Bayless (2002) confirmed its presence in the country. From the ecological point of view, it is noteworthy that in Togo this species occurs syntopically with Varanus niloticus (for instance, from Aneho:‰ 6°13’44.30” N,‰ 1°36’22.80”E to Yegue:‰ 8°10’58.80” N, 00°38’60.00”E), whereas the two species always occur parapatrically or allopatrically in Nigeria ( Angelici & Luiselli 1999). The diet of this species was studied in the mangrove and swamp forest habitats of southern Nigeria, and there it has been seen mainly feeding upon crabs ( Luiselli et al. 1999). This species is certainly exploited for the international pet trade, but the number of exported individuals remains unknown given that they are exported under the V. niloticus quotas.