V. ornatus
Ornated monitor.
Distribtution: tropical Africa (from Guinea to south-west of Zaire).
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 : light pink or whitish
- 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 : 160 to 169
- Origin of the specimen : Africa and Arabian peninsula.