Varanus finschi

I will shortly be moving from the US to New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago to assist a good friend of mine who has recently expanded his scuba diving company to the Rabaul area on northern New Britain.

As reptiles is another big passion I hope to collect a few of those during my time, I really hope to find some V. finschi as I have never seen this species in the flesh before, hardly even a picture to be honest.

Anyone which are aware of any recent pappers treating V. finshi in any deepth, and also where to look for these. My friend mention monitors being found in the coconut plantations but I assume these are V. indicus and that V. finschi is found inland on New Britain.

Anyone which happens to have the original description of Varanus finschi?


Böhme,W., H. G. HORN & T. ZIEGLER 1994. Zur Taxonomie der Pazifikwarane (Varanus-indicus-Komplex): Revalidierung von Varanus doreanus (A. B. MEYER, 1874) mit Beschreibung einer neuen Unterart. Salamandra 30 (2): 119-142.

thanks in advance