Unravelling the underestimated diversity of Philippine water monitor lizards (Squamata: Varanus salvator complex), with the description of two new species and a new subspecies

FIGURE 25. Dorsal view of the holotype (SMF 73912) of V. palawanensis sp. nov. Photo by André Koch.

FIGURE 26. Ventral view of the holotype (SMF 73912) of V. palawanensis sp. nov. Photo by André Koch.

FIGURE 27. Portrait of the holotype (SMF 73912) of V. palawanensis sp. nov. Note the ill-defined temporal stripe and the dark pigmentation on the dorsal and ventral side of the tongue. Photo by André Koch.

FIGURE 28. Adult paratype (BMNH 94.6.390.20) of V. palawanensis sp. nov. with bright marking on the head. Photo by André Koch.

FIGURE 29. Adult V. palawanensis sp. nov. from Palawan. Photo courtesy of Ingo Langlotz.

FIGURE 34. Distribution ranges of the Philippine species of the V. s a l va t o r complex according to the morphological investigations presented here: V. marmoratus = red; V. nuchalis = blue; V. palawanensis sp. nov. = green; V. rasmusseni sp. nov. = black; V. c. cumingi = yellow; and V. c. s a m a re n s i s ssp. nov. = purple. Question marks denote the water monitor populations from Mindoro, Basilan, and northern Borneo of unknown taxonomic status. The grey shaded areas indicate the paleo-shorelines of several Pleistocene aggregate island complexes, which today, form biogeographic subregions of the Philippines: I = Greater Palawan; II = Greater Luzon; III = Greater Negros – Panay; IV = Greater Mindanao; and V = Greater Sulu. Map modified after Gaulke (in press).