Can someone tell me the difference?

[firepowerfox03]

I have what was told to me a burundi nile but to me me they look like the ornate monitor. Are they one and the same? Thx in advance

[markb]

Burundi nile was/is a pet trade name, and perhaps 10-15 years ago they might have been shipped from Burundi via Tanzania to Nigeria to Florida in USA or G. Britain and then to your home. The difference between common nile (V. niloticus) and ornate nile or "Daudin's Monitor (V. ornatus) is primarily tongue color: niloticus has purple tongue and ornatus has a pink tongue color; for distribtuion see my paper and post below regarding African Varanus distribution, or contact me directly via email if you want to get a reprint of this 70 page paper. V. ornatus also has a larger head compared to body size proportions than does V. niloticus; however very large adult V. niloticus have enormous head sizes. I recently saw a 6.5 foot niloticus whose head and mouth could crush your hands to powder! Huge abductor muscles (for molluscivorous diet).

V. niloticus range in all habitat where water is present and available year round when dry season is present; V. ornatus can be found more frequently in rainforest, evergreen forests where rainfall is higher and humidity higher.

cheers,
markb

[Steeve B]

Pink tong of Ornatus!
Ornatus dentition designed for crushing land snails and such!
Mouths rot infection spreading to tong and upper gums (possible rat bite?)

[markb]

Hi Steve,
That is a GREAT pic!! I have never seen the inside of a live V. ornatus and the hidden teeth are fascinating. Too bad about the mouth rot though - Yuch! Thanks for sharing a good pic My Friend...
markb

[Dragoon]

That's alive?