V. niloticus
Nil's monitor
Distribution: all the African continent except deserts.
CITES: appendix II.
Easy-to-see descriptors
- transversal section of the tail : laterally compressed
- spiny tail : absence
- tail with median double-keel : presence
- bicoloured tail : absence
- position of nostrils between eyes and tip of snout : same distance from eyes than from tip of snout
- nostrils' form : well round
- tongue coloration : blue, purple or black
- prehensile tail : absence
- nuchal scales : same size than head scales
- form of the snout : triangular
- pale band on the snout : absence
- relief of nuchal scales : not applicable
Expert descriptors
- direction of nostrils : laterally directed
- other head scales : not applicable
- supra-ocular scales : no specific pattern or scales of head homogenous in size
- SVL - snout vent length : up to 40 centimeters ; 40 centimeters and more
- scale count around midbody : 130 to 139 ; 140 to149 ; 150 to 159 ; 160 to 169 ; 170 to 179 ; 180 to 189
- Origin of the specimen : Africa and Arabian peninsula.