REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: TEIIDAE: Callopistes

Callopistes flavipunctatus (Steindachner, 1878)

Monitor tegu / false monitor

Photo & text by Dr. Robert Sprackland.

Range: Savannas and pampas of central western South America.

Diagnosis: A very monitor-like teiid, complete with protrusible forked tongue. Differs from monitors in having large, smooth rectangular belly scales in symmetrical rows, and large glossy facial scales.

Description: Snout long, slightly depressed, with glossy scales.  Upper labials distinct, and number 8 or 9. Nostril round and anterior, near snout tip. Eyelids present, ear opening exposed. Body and cheek scales small, granular; those on head somewhat larger, flat and plate-like. Body olive with light yellowish spots. Belly scales rectangular, in symmetrical rows, and glossy.

Natural History: This large teiid is very similar in habits and appearance to the Old World monitor lizards, hence the common name. Monitor tegus are active predators that hunt small mammals, large arthropods, other reptiles and eggs. There is, however, very little known about these lizards in the wild.

Reproduction: Egg layers.

Taxonomy & Relationships: The name "flavipunctatus" means "yellow-spotted." This species was originally placed in a genus of its own, Tejovaranus. There is only one other species in Callopistes, C. maculatus, also of South America.

Variation:

Additional Comments:

Type Specimen:

Literature: