Dwarf and spiny-tailed monitors

There have been over ten subgenera proposed for the many species of monitor lizards, but the most stable subgenus to date has been the subgenus Odatria. With few exceptions, this genus is characterized by lizards under three feet (0.9 meters) overall with round, keeled tails and comparatively short tongues. The nostril is near the snout tip, or at least nearer to the snout tip than to the eye. The supraocular scales (over the eyes) are not enlarged, being either equal in size or very slightly smaller than the scales across the head between the eyes.