Updated checklist of the living monitor lizards of the world (Squamata: Varanidae)

We provide an update of Bohme's (2003) checklist of the living monitor lizards of the world. Since this con- tribution, ten new species and one new subspecies have been described. Ten of these taxa were described from the is- lands of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. One Soterosaurus taxon (macromaculatus) was revalidated to subspecies sta- tus, whereas the younger melanistic taxon komaini was synonymized with the former. In addition, five taxa (beccarii, cumingi, marmoratus, nuchalis, and togianus), that were formerly treated as subspecies, were re-elevated to species rank resulting in 73 extant species (including 21 subspecies). This represents a 20% increase of the world's varanid diversity since 2003. In addition, ongoing taxonomic studies on V. spinulosus from the Solomon Islands (formerly a member of the V. indicus species group) indicate that this species most likely represents a new subgenus. Therefore, this taxon is currently treated incertae sedis. In sum, taxonomic research in monitor lizards remains incomplete. Further studies must be initiated to fully understand diversity and distribution of these CITES-listed lizards next to implications for sustain- able conservation measures.