Nilgiri Forest Lizard

One detached spine in front of three or two small ones on each side of the nape; a fold of the skin before the shoulder. Scales of the sides very large, not keeled; those of the abdomen much smaller, keeled. Dorsal crest extending only about one-third along the back; where the dorsal crest terminates, the scales of the ridge arc pointed. The scales at the base of the tail above arc of rather large size. Green. These characters have been noted by Jerdon from a single specimen obtained near the foot of the Coonoor ghat of the Nilgherries. It was 18 inches long. From C. A. L. Gunther (1864), The Reptiles of British India.

Length of head one and a half times its breadth; snout distinctly longer than the orbit; forehead concave; upper head-scales unequal, smooth or feebly keeled; Canthus rostralis and supraciliary edge sharp; a row of 3 or 4 compressed spines above the posterior part of the tympanum, the diameter of which is less than half that of the orbit; 9 or 10 upper and as many lower labials. Body compressed; dorsal scales very large, about three times as large as the median ventrals, smooth, pointing backwards and upwards; ventrals strongly keeled; 36 to 43 scales round the middle of the body; gular sac: small; scales on either side of the lower jaw feebly keeled, larger than the ventrals, those on the gular pouch smaller, more strongly keeled about as large as the ventrals. …