About Monilesaurus ellioti (Günther, 1864)
Monilesaurus ellioti (Günther, 1864) has upper head scales that are feebly keeled, imbricate, and much enlarged across the supraorbital region. A small spine sits behind the supraciliary edge, with two additional spines on each side: the anterior is midway between the nuchal crest and the tympanum, and the posterior is just above the tympanum. The tympanum measures nearly half the diameter of the orbit. The gular sac is not developed. Gular scales are strongly keeled and smaller than the ventral scales. This species has a strong oblique fold or pit in front of the shoulder, plus a transverse gular fold. The nuchal crest is made of a few widely separated slender spines; the longest of these spines measures about two thirds the diameter of the orbit. The dorsal crest is only a slight denticulation. There are 53 to 61 scales around the midsection of the body. Loreal scales are roughly the same size as ventral scales and keeled: the uppermost loreal scales have points directed straight backward, while the remaining loreal scales have points directed downward and backward. Ventral scales are strongly keeled. When adpressed, the hind limb reaches either the anterior border of the orbit or the tip of the snout. The fourth finger is longer than the third finger. The tail is barely compressed. The species is olive-colored on its upper side, with more or less distinct angular dark-brown cross bands across the body. An angular black mark appears on each side of the neck, and a white spot sits below the orbit. Dark lines radiate out from the eye. Adult M. ellioti can reach a snout-to-vent length of 3 inches (7.6 cm), with a total tail length of 8.5 inches (22 cm). This species is endemic to the Western Ghats of India, and has been recorded in Anaimalai, Agasthyamalai, Cardamom Hills, Palni Hills, Nilgiris, Waynad, Coorg, and Kudremukh. It inhabits rainforest and adjacent plantations including coffee, cardamom, tea, areca, and vanilla estates, ranging from sea level up to 1,100 m (3,600 ft) in elevation. M. ellioti is oviparous.
