Varanus niloticus ( Linnaeus, 1766 )

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

Varanus niloticus ( Linnaeus, 1766)

Lacerta nilotica Linnaeus, 1766: 369 .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 10 specimens: Togo. Agou , MRAC 73014.0010, 73014.0054 ; Borgou (Dapaong), Mango, ZMB 16039 ; Sokodé, ZMB 53519 and 16276 .

Ghana. Kéta , ZMB 13833, ZMB 25879 ; Kété Kratchi , ZMB 26788 and 16037 .

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This is a widespread species, occurring in all habitat types in Togo. It is locally abundant, for instance along the Mono River, the Lake Togo, and in Togodo National Park. This species was recorded in Togo for the first time by Matschie (1891, 1893). Tornier (1901) recorded this species from Sokodé, Mango, Sebbe (Zebé, actually Aného), Bismarkburg (Adélé) and Kété-Kratchi (actually in Ghana). Other authors also recorded this species in the country ( Werner 1898; Böhme & Ziegler 1997; Bayless 2002). It is heavily exploited for the international pet trade: according to the CITES division of the DFC, a total of 19889 live specimens were exported between 2001 and 2005 (see also Affre et al. 2005). Eniang et al. (2014a) showed that West African V. niloticus populations, despite being relatively habitat generalist, do not select habitat types in relation to their availability, and that they shift resting places ontogenetically, with smaller individuals being relatively more arboreal than adults.