Description ³

A medium-sized fairly heavily built lizard, maximum SVL recorded 91 mm; tail relatively long, average tail/SVL ratio =1.5. Nostril pierced in a single scale, followed by a small postnasal; 4 supraoculars, 4 supralabials anterior to eye; ear fairly large, oval with 3-5 small lobules; tympanum exposed. Dorsals tricarinate, ventrals smooth, 35-40 scales around mid-body (based on 50 Egyptian specimens). Coloration varies greatly according to age and sex. Basic dorsal coloration brown with 5 yellowish longitudinal stripes, the most lateral of these continuing onto the upper lip. Venter grayish white. This is the basic color and pattern of females and immature animals. Juveniles are much more contrasting, with brilliant blue tails. Adult males lose the dorsal striation, except for the most lateral stripe, which is orange-yellow; dorsum is olive, tail yellowish, throat and sides of neck black, upper lips white.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Carmelo López Abad, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Carmelo López Abad
2. (c) Yvonne A. de Jong, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Yvonne A. de Jong
3. (c) Bibliotheca Alexandrina, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/15643634

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CalPhotos
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HerpMapper
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• The Reptile Database
• VertNet

Range Map

(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

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