[3] The specific name semotus is Latin for "distant" or "remote", in reference to this species being isolated from its closest relatives by several hundred kilometres as it only occurs on Mussau Island.

Although once likely common throughout Mussau, it is now restricted to a small coastal area of the island due to logging.

It is however still common in its current range, where it can be found on palm trees, shrubs, and other dry coastal vegetation.

[4] The Mussau Island blue-tailed monitor reaches just over 1 metre in length.

It has a pale yellow tongue, which is a shared characteristic of the V. doreanus species complex.