What visible feature is mentioned as separating the Chinese Water Dragon visually in profile?
Answer
A large, visible tympanum situated just behind the eye
The head morphology offers specific clues for identification when comparing the two dragons. For the Chinese Water Dragon (*Physignathus cocincinus*), a defining visual cue when viewing the animal in profile is the presence of a large, readily visible tympanum, which functions as the eardrum, located immediately behind the eye structure. While head stripes are present on both species, this specific auditory anatomy detail provides a reliable means of separation from the Australian species, where the focus for head markings is often placed on the count and placement of the cream stripes along the head and neck.
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