First F2 Breeding of the Quince Monitor Lizard Varanus melinus Böhme & Ziegler, 1997 at the Cologne Zoo Aquarium

Abstract. We report the first breeding of the quince monitor lizard Varanus melinus in a European Zoo, which at the same time represents to our knowledge the first F2 breeding of the species in general. In June 2009, a clutch containing nine eggs was produced at the Aquarium of the Cologne Zoo by a V. melinus pair received seven years earlier as offspring from a private breeder. Two of these eggs showed no development and one egg contained dead conjoined twins. Six offspring with weights of 33-35 g (mean 34 g) and total lengths of 266-281 mm (mean 274 mm) finally hatched in December 2009 from eggs measuring 47.1-58.6 mm (mean 54.0 mm) x 32.0-36.0 mm (mean 34.2 mm) in size, after 164–166 (mean 164.8) days of incubation at 29 °C. A second clutch comprised of five eggs was laid in September 2009, about three months after the deposition of the first clutch. Two of these eggs showed no development and one egg contained a dead, slightly malformed embryo. Two V. melinus subsequently hatched from this second clutch in February 2010 after 164–165 days of incubation at 29 °C. We compare our data with previously published information on the successful breeding of the species. All eight V. melinus hatched at the Cologne Zoo are developing well, and some will be subsequently provided for conservation breeding projects. Because this attractive species seems to play an important role in the international animal trade, and due to only very few husbandry and breeding reports available, we herewith intend to encourage the conservation breeding of this monitor lizard and to add to the scarce knowledge of the natural history of this beautiful species through both ex situ zoo breeding efforts and in situ population research, to finally contribute to improved conservation measures.