Elliot's Forest Lizard

About the Elliot's Forest Lizard

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. The specific name, ellioti, is in honor of Scottish naturalist Walter Elliot.

Endemic to the Western Ghats of India, M. ellioti is found in Anaimalai, Agasthyamalai, Cardamom Hills, Palni Hills, Nilgiris, Waynad, Coorg and Kudremukh. 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).

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... Wikipedia →