Varanus tristis

[Gecko_ProCs]

Hey all.
i was looking these guys up when i got kinda confused
hopefully someone can clear this up for me
[sorry if it sounds stupid]

this site has written
"V.T.Tristis"
&
"V.T.Orientalis"
but both were on the same Varanus tristis discription page
so are they the same monitor? just one retains most of its hatchling patterns whilst the other gains varying amounts of black?
and if so, which is most commonly sold??

again sorry if this sounds like a dumb question

Cheers Camo...

 

[Gecko_ProCs]

Bump!

 

[geckodan]

Varanus tristis is the species. V. t. tristis and V.t. orientalis are subspecies, varying in size ,shape and distribution. Both are equally common (although many orientalis being kept are IMO just well patterned tristis tristis).

 

[Gecko_ProCs]

thanks

 

[richardsc]

orientalis is believed to be the shorter sub species,60 cm copared to tristis tristis up to 80 cm,tristis is also supposed to have black head and tail,more color in the midsection where as freckled eg orientilis same coloring right through,lacking darker head and tail,as a rule,there both highly variable through out there distributions