What is the scientific designation for the Gippsland Water Dragon subspecies?
Intellagama lesueurii howitti
The Gippsland Water Dragon is recognized as a distinct subspecies of the Australian Water Dragon, and its formal scientific classification is *Intellagama lesueurii howitti*, often abbreviated as *I. l. howitti*. This specific nomenclature is used to differentiate it morphologically and geographically from the Eastern Water Dragon (*I. l. lesueurii*). The division into these subspecies is vital for accurate ecological studies and conservation efforts within Australia, reflecting subtle evolutionary variations tied to regional separation. This level of detail within the genus *Intellagama* shows a finer resolution of evolutionary splits within the Australian population compared to the Asian species, which currently lacks indicated subspecies differentiation in published sources.
