Monilesaurus ellioti | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Family: | Agamidae |
Genus: | Monilesaurus |
Species: | M. ellioti |
Binomial name | |
Monilesaurus ellioti | |
Subspecies [2] | |
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Synonyms [2] | |
Monilesaurus ellioti, also known commonly as Elliot's forest lizard, is a species of arboreal, diurnal, lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats, India. [1] [2]
The specific name, ellioti, is in honor of Scottish naturalist Walter Elliot. [3]
Endemic to the Western Ghats of India, [1] [2] M. ellioti is found in Anaimalai, [1] Agasthyamalai, Cardamom Hills, Palni Hills, Nilgiris, Waynad, Coorg and Kudremukh.[ citation needed ]
M. ellioti inhabits rainforest and adjacent plantations like coffee, cardamom and tea estates and even in Areca and vanilla plantations, from sea level to 1,100 m (3,600 ft). [1]
The upper head-scales of M. ellioti are feebly keeled, imbricate, and much enlarged on the supraorbital region. There is a small spine behind the supraciliary edge, and two others on each side, the anterior midway between the nuchal crest and the tympanum, the posterior just above the latter, which measures nearly half the diameter of the orbit. The gular sac is not developed. The gular scales are strongly keeled, smaller than the ventrals. There is a strong oblique fold or pit in front of the shoulder, and a transverse gular fold. The nuchal crest is composed of a few widely separated slender spines, the longest of which measures about two thirds the diameter of the orbit. The dorsal crest is a mere denticulation. There are 53 to 61 scales round the middle of the body. The loreal scales are of nearly the same size as the ventrals, keeled, the uppermost with the points directed straight backwards, the others directed downwards and backwards. The ventral scales are strongly keeled. The adpressed hind limb reaches the anterior border of the orbit or the tip of the snout. The fourth finger is longer than the third. The tail is scarcely compressed. M. ellioti is olive above, with more or less distinct angular dark-brown cross bands on the body. There is an angular black mark on each side of the neck, and a white spot below the orbit. Dark lines radiate from the eye. [4]
M. ellioti may attain a snout-to-vent length of 3 in (7.6 cm), with a tail length of 8.5 in (22 cm). [4]
Calotes is a genus of lizards in the draconine clade of the family Agamidae. The genus contains 29 species. Some species are known as forest lizards, others as "bloodsuckers" due to their red heads, and yet others as garden lizards. The Genus-name Calotes has been derived from the Greek word ‘Καλότης (Kalótës)’, meaning ‘beauty’, referring to the beautiful pattern of this Genus.
Ceratophora is a genus of agamid lizards found in Sri Lanka. The male has a horn on its snout.
Hardwicke's bloodsucker is an agamid lizard and found in South Asia.
Bronchocela cristatella, also known as the green crested lizard, is a species of agamid lizard endemic to Southeast Asia.
Bronchocela jubata, commonly known as the maned forest lizard, is a species of agamid lizard found mainly in Indonesia on the islands of Singkep, Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Karakelang, Salibabu; Nias Island, Singkap Island, Borneo (Kalimantan) also in Thailand, Cambodia and Philippines. Although in the past it was thought the species may be found in India, either on the mainland or in the Nicobars, this is not the case according to herpetologist Das. It is also known by the common name of "bloodsucker", although this is a misnomer.
Calotes calotes, the common green forest lizard, is an agamid lizard found in the forests of the Western Ghats and the Shevaroy Hills in India, and Sri Lanka.
Calotes mystaceus, the Indo-Chinese forest lizard or blue crested lizard, is an agamid lizard found in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Calotes nemoricola, the Nilgiri forest lizard, is an agamid lizard found in the Western Ghats of India.
Monilesaurus rouxii, commonly known as Roux's forest lizard, Roux's forest calotes, or the forest blood sucker, is a species of arboreal, diurnal, agamid lizard, which is endemic to hills of peninsular India. In July 2018, it was proposed that the species should be transferred to the new genus Monilesaurus.
Draco blanfordii, commonly known as Blanford's flying dragon, Blanford’s flying lizard, or Blanford's gliding lizard, is a species of "flying" lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Asia, and is capable of gliding from tree to tree.
Draco maculatus, commonly known as the spotted flying dragon or spotted gliding lizard, is a species of agamid flying lizard endemic to Southeast Asia. It is capable of gliding from tree to tree.
The peninsular rock agama or South Indian rock agama is a common species of agama found on rocky hills in south India. An allied species, Psammophilus blanfordanus, is found in the Eastern Ghats, but north of the range of this species.
Salea horsfieldii, commonly known as Horsfield's spiny lizard or the Nilgiri salea, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills of India. It is found mainly in the high altitude grassy hills. A related species, Salea anamallayana, is found in the grassy hills of the Anaimalai Hills.
The Indian golden gecko or Beddome's golden gecko is a species of gecko known only from the Eastern Ghats of India. It was rediscovered from the hills near present-day Tirupati. The rediscovery was after over 100 years since its description.
Jerdon's day gecko is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to India and Sri Lanka.
Uropeltis ellioti, commonly known as Elliot's earth snake and Elliot's shieldtail, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to India.
Ceratophora tennentii, commonly known as the rhinoceros agama, horn-nosed lizard, and Tennent's leaf-nosed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Microauris is a monotypic genus of agamid lizard. Its only species is Microauris aurantolabium, also known as the small-eared dragon or orange-lipped forest lizard, found in the forests of the southern Western Ghats and is currently known from the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. The species was formerly included in Pseudocalotes andamanensis of the Andaman Islands, but recognized as distinct in 2008. It was also classified under Calotes until 2018, where it was transferred to its own genus, Microauris, on the basis of its divergence from Calotes.
Calotes ceylonensis, commonly known as the painted-lipped lizard or the Ceylon bloodsucker, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. It is one of four Calotes species endemic to Sri Lanka.
The whistling lizard, or Sri Lanka agama, Calotes liolepis is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. It is one of four Calotes species endemic to Sri Lanka.