Togian Water Monitors

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Posted by John A on May 07, 2003 at 14:51:57:

In Reply to: Togian Water Monitors posted by boids on May 07, 2003 at 14:11:28:

Well what youll probably be buying are the melanistic salvators. they are known as komeini black waters or ampenang lizards. now it gets confusing...
there are more than one locality of black waters. some are black versions of existing subspecies such as all black nuchalis on ticao, all black versions of salvtor on krakatao, phuket, lingga, etc. some localitys are known to be all black, some localitys black above yellow or white or grey below. some black waters are born black, some transform for reasons unknown into the blackest versions. those can be born very normally patterned. columbus zoo bred their phuket island black (grey belly) and there pics can be found if you do a google search. as for husbandry, it will not stray too far from keeping a normal salvtor (sumatran, speckled, sulfur, cumingi, komeini, white head, etc.). all kept virtually same. all require same thing. go read pro exotics care sheet on water monitors, read all the forums, learn everything you can on waters...it applies to the whole salvator group. -john a

:All that black is what i really like about them. I have a chance to get some but i'm trying to find all husbandary info that i can . Do you know of anyone that has them? And do you know if they have been bred in captivity/ Thanks Paul

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::the togian waters are NOT the speckled waters sold in the states time to time. togianus are blacker and speckled. -john

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:::Yes it helped alot i'll have to find out about the yellow speckles and see if there on them. Thanks Paul

::::hi paul,
::::i have pics on my site of togianus (but im skepticsal on if its actually togianus or taken on togian islands). from what i understand, indonesia classified this subspecies as rare, and deemed the togian islands a refuge for birds and turtles. good thing is they have some degree of protection. i dont know anyone who has an actual togianus. these importers claim to be catching actual togianus but then they are violating indo laws. so, they catch similar looking black waters to be sold as togianus. if you know what togianus looks like, its black on top with tiny yellow speckles on each scale. there is no indication of transverse rings, or bands. the tail is speckled too. belly may have banding, but is likely to be yellow with grey banding if at all. the fact that togianus is reported on togian islands and mainland sulawesi (near ujong pandang) interests me. could togianus just be a darker form of common salvator, or is it worthy of subspecies status? there isnt much known on togianus in wild, most of the data is real old, over 100 years. this makes a case for biologists to really get there and do a lengthy research report to shed light. from what ive seen in museum collections, the north arm of sulawesi has dark, ringed salvator, common types. there must be quite many unknown types on sulawesi. according to m. gaulke, the ancestor to cumingi migrated from sulawesi to philippines. could an ancestral light colored salvator still be there...thats what i wanna know.
::::back to togianus, they may reach 5 feet.
::::i hope i helped in some way. the pic attached is supposedly taken on togian island. -john a

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:::::I am wondering if anyone has any exp with this type of water monitor. Are they as docile as other waters and i'm pretty sure but ther requirements would be the same as sumatras and such right? I just can't seem to find any info on this monitor , If anyone has any or knows of a webpage or book please let me know thanks Paul, please e-mail me at herps50@msn.com , also does anyone know how to change your e-mail on this thing thanks again paul

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