Varanus prasinus

Ziegler, Thomas, Schmitz, Andreas, Koch, André & Böhme, Wolfgang, 2007, A review of the subgenus Euprepiosaurus of Varanus (Squamata: Varanidae): morphological and molecular phylogeny, distribution and zoogeography, with an identification key for the members of the V. indicus and the V. prasinus species groups, Zootaxa 1472 (1), pp. 1-28 : 24

B Varanus prasinus group

1 a Body melanistic, patternless ........................................................................................................................ 2

1 b Body not melanistic, only dorsal ground coloration black, with distinct light pattern................................ 3

1 c Dorsal ground coloration of body greenish-yellow, green or bluish-green ................................................. 5

2 a Tubercular, sharply keeled nuchals; rugose cranial scales; smooth ventrals; number of scales from rictus to rictus higher than 44; number of midbody scales higher than 95; number of transverse rows of ventrals from gular fold to hindlegs higher than 87 ..................................................................................... V. bogerti

2 b Triangular keeled, hull-shaped nuchal scales; cranials not as rugose as in V. bogerti ; slightly keeled ventrals; number of scales from rictus to rictus lower than 37; number of midbody scales lower than 86; number of transverse rows of ventrals from gular fold to hindlegs lower than 79 .............................. V. beccarii

3 a Dorsal pattern consisting of transversal rows of blue ocelli; tail with alternating blue and black bands; neck scales smooth, unkeeled ....................................................................................................... V. macraei (SVL up to 36 cm; throat light with fine dark blotches)

3 b Dorsal pattern consisting of golden or yellow speckles that form chevrons; tail with yellow spots or alternating yellow and black bands; neck scales granular to slightly keeled...................................................... 4

4 a Golden dorsal speckles arranged in chevrons; snout tip light yellow; gular scales round to oval; 67–79 transverse rows of ventral scales .................................................................................................. V. boehmei (maximum snout-vent length 29 cm; light to reddish brown throat, partly with dark dots)

4 b Yellow dorsal spots, forming thin, paired chevrons; snout blue-grey in colour; gular scales conical, pointed; 84–91 transverse rows of ventral scales .................................................................... V. keithhornei (maximum snout-vent length 26 cm; pale lime green throat)

5 a Dorsal ground coloration yellow or greenish-yellow with transversal dark bands or a dark reticulation; throat greenish-yellow ................................................................................................................ V.reisingeri

5 b Dorsal ground coloration green or bluish-green.......................................................................................... 6

6 a Dorsum olive to bluish-green with dark ocelli or black reticulation; nuchal scales strongly keeled ............ .................................................................................................................................................... V. kordensis

6 b Dorsum bright green with V-shaped stripes; nuchals smooth or slightly keeled......................................... 7

7 a Ventral side green; throat light, patternless; palms black; 72–88 transverse rows of slightly keeled ventral scales ............................................................................................................................................. V.prasinus

7 b Ventral side mottled; throat banded; palms pale; 92 transverse rows of smooth ventral scales V.telenesetes