Аннотация:Abstract Examination of the cardiac anatomy of lizards of the family Varanidae revealed that much of the previous literature contained basic errors both in description and interpretation. These are corrected and terminology of various authors is standardized. The varanid ventricle is similar to that of most other lizards in not being elongated, in having the base at right angles to the longitudinal axis, and in having the vertical septum weakly developed. However, it is not a typical lacertilian heart in that it has a number of characteristic ophidian features such as a muscular cone surrounding the cavum latero‐dorsale and a prominent twisting of the cava. It lacks a gubernaculum cordis and a cartilaginous rod in the septum aortico‐pulmonale, both of which are present in many non‐varanid lizards, but seldom occur in snakes. The location of the heart is more posterior in the body than is true of other lizards.
