title: Molecular and morphological assessment of Varanus pilbarensis (Squamata: Varanidae), with a description of a new species from the southern Pilbara, Western Australia.
abstract: Varanus pilbarensis Storr, 1980 is a specialised saxicolous varanid endemic to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. We present genetic and morphological evidence confirming the existence of a divergent southern lineage, here described as V. hamersleyensis sp. nov.. The new species differs noticeably in having a darker colouration and a reduced pattern of small whitish ocelli on the dorsal surface of the limbs only with a largely unbanded tail. By contrast, V. pilbarensis which is redescribed and restricted to the northern lineage, is paler and more boldly patterned with large greyish ocelli on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the body and a strongly banded tail. The two species have discrete distributions centred on the Chichester and Hamersley Ranges to the north and south of the Fortescue River Basin. This pattern of intraregional genetic structuring is similar to that found in a number of other saxicolous lizard lineages from the Pilbara.
authors.affiliation: Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd, 50B Angove Street, North Perth, Western Australia 6006, AUSTRALIA. Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, AUSTRALIA; Email: Lerista.2@bigpond.com.
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maryan
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, AUSTRALIA and Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, AUSTRALIA.; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, AUSTRALIA; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Alison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fitch
authors.affiliation: Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd, 50B Angove Street, North Perth, Western Australia 6006, AUSTRALIA.; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Connell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity; D014904:Western Australia
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial