Gargoyle fact

Herpetologists often measure snout-to-vent length rather than total length

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Quick answer

Because tail length varies so much between an original tail, a partially regrown tail, and a fully regrown tail, snout-to-vent length (SVL) — typically around 4 to 4.5 inches in adults — is a more consistent size measurement in the scientific literature than total length, which is usually quoted around 7 to 9 inches including the tail..

Because tail length varies so much between an original tail, a partially regrown tail, and a fully regrown tail, snout-to-vent length (SVL) — typically around 4 to 4.5 inches in adults — is a more consistent size measurement in the scientific literature than total length, which is usually quoted around 7 to 9 inches including the tail.