''Calumma'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

chameleon Chameleons or chamaeleons (Family (biology), family Chamaeleonidae) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards with 200 species described as of June 2015. The members of this Family (biology), family are best known for ...

s, highly adapted and specialised

lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...

s, in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Chamaeleonidae. The genus is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to the island of

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

. One species, formerly known as ''

Calumma tigris The tiger chameleon (''Archaius tigris''), (from Greek αρχαίος, meaning "ancient", archaic) also known as the Seychelles tiger chameleon, is the only species in the resurrected genus ''Archaius''. Initially placed into ''Chamaeleo'', it w ...

'' (the

Seychelles Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (; Seychellois Creole: ), is an island country and archipelagic state consisting of 155 islands (as per the Constitution) in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, Victoria, ...

tiger chameleon), was transferred to the genus '' Archaius'' in 2010, upon the discovery of its closer relation to ''

Rieppeleon ''Rieppeleon'' is a genus of small, typically brown chameleons found in forests and savannas in East Africa. Member species are found at low levels in bushes, or on the ground among grass or leaf litter. Etymology The genus ''Rieppeleon'' was na ...

''—one of several genera referred to collectively as "leaf" or "pygmy" chameleons—rather than to ''Calumma''. The earliest known fossil of the genus is of ''

Calumma benovskyi ''Calumma benovskyi'' is an extinct species of chameleon of the ''Calumma'' genus. While species of this genus are only found on Madagascar today, ''C. benovskyi'' was discovered in the Miocene sediments of Kenya. This indicates that the genus an ...

'', from early

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

, showing that the genus likely originated on mainland

East Africa East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...

. The genus includes one of the heaviest and longest chameleon species, the

Parson's chameleon Parson's chameleon (''Calumma parsonii'') is a species of chameleon in the family Chamaeleonidae that is endemic to eastern and northern Madagascar. It is found from lowlands to an altitude of above sea level and mainly inhabits humid primary f ...

(''Calumma parsonii'').

Species groups

Four species groups are recognised within the genus ''Calumma'' (originally proposed by Glaw & Vences in 1994), some of which may be only

phenetic In biology, phenetics (; ), also known as taximetrics, is an attempt to classify organisms based on overall similarity, usually with respect to Morphology (biology), morphology or other observable traits, regardless of their phylogeny or evoluti ...

, while others are

phylogenetically In biology, phylogenetics () is the study of the evolutionary history of life using observable characteristics of organisms (or genes), which is known as phylogenetic inference. It infers the relationship among organisms based on empirical data ...

supported:

''
Calumma furcifer ''Calumma furcifer'', the “fork-nosed” chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in Madagascar, in the western Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of ...
'' species group

Contents: ''Calumma furcifer, C. gastrotaenia, C. marojezense, C. guillaumeti, C. andringitraense, C. glawi, C. vencesi'' Species characterised by typically green body colouration, sleek body form, and generally no occipital lobes (flaps of skin posterior to the head; present only in ''C. glawi'') and no rostral appendage (present only in males of ''C. furcifer'').

''
Calumma cucullatum The hooded chameleon (''Calumma cucullatum'') is a Vulnerable species of chameleon endemic to north-east Madagascar; its geological type locality is Madagascar. It can be found in humid forests over an area of between above mean sea level. D ...
'' species group

Contents: ''Calumma cucullatum, C. crypticum, C. amber, C. tsaratananense, C. hafahafa, C. hilleniusi, C. peltierorum, C. malthe, C. brevicorne, C. jejy, C. tsycorne'' Species characterised by distinct occipital lobes and generally a single bony rostral appendage that is larger in males than females.

''
Calumma nasutum ''Calumma nasutum'', the Madagascar pimple-nose chameleon, is a small species of chameleon found in Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous sm ...
'' species group

Contents: ''Calumma nasutum, C. fallax, C. gallus, C. guibei, C. boettgeri, C. linotum, C. gehringi, C. uetzi, C. lefona, C. juliae'', ''C. vatosoa, C. vohibola, C. peyrierasi, C. roaloko'' Species characterised by a soft dermal rostral appendage (generally present in males and absent in females). The following members possess occipital lobes: ''C. guibei, C. boettgeri, C. linotum, C. gehringi, C. uetzi, C. lefona, C. roaloko,'' and ''C. juliae.'' These taxa are collectively referred to as the ''C. guibei'' species complex. Occipital lobes are absent from all other species. The assignment of ''C. peyrierasi'' to this group remains a subject of uncertainty.

''
Calumma parsonii Parson's chameleon (''Calumma parsonii'') is a species of chameleon in the Family (biology), family Chamaeleonidae that is Endemism, endemic to eastern and northern Madagascar. It is found from lowlands to an altitude of above sea level and main ...
'' species group

Contents: ''Calumma globifer, C. ambreense, C. oshaughnessyi, C. parsonii, C. capuroni'' Species characterised by large body size, males with paired rostral appendages, and some species with small occipital lobes.

Species

The following 41 species are recognized as being valid as of October 2020: *''

Calumma amber ''Calumma amber'', commonly known as the Amber Mountain chameleon, is a species of chameleons endemic to Antsiranana Province, Madagascar. The species was first observed in 1989 and was first described in 2006, and can only be found in the north ...

'' Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006 – Amber Mountain chameleon *''

Calumma ambreense ''Calumma ambreense'' is a species of chameleon found in Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the sou ...

'' ( Ramanantsoa, 1974) *'' Calumma andringitraense'' ( Brygoo, C. Blanc & Domergue, 1972) *''

Calumma boettgeri ''Calumma boettgeri'' is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. Etymology The specific name, ''boettgeri'', is in honor of German herpetologist Oskar Boettger. Geographic range ''C. ...

'' ( Boulenger, 1888) – Boettger's chameleon *'' Calumma brevicorne'' ( Günther, 1879) – short-horned chameleon *'' Calumma capuroni'' (Brygoo, C. Blanc & Domergue, 1972) – Madagascar chameleon *'' Calumma crypticum'' Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006 – blue-legged chameleon *''

Calumma cucullatum The hooded chameleon (''Calumma cucullatum'') is a Vulnerable species of chameleon endemic to north-east Madagascar; its geological type locality is Madagascar. It can be found in humid forests over an area of between above mean sea level. D ...

'' (

Gray Grey (more frequent in British English) or gray (more frequent in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning that it has no chroma. It is the color of a cloud-covered s ...

, 1831) – hooded chameleon *'' Calumma emelinae'' Prötzel,

Scherz Scherz is a former municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the district of Brugg (district), Brugg in Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Aargau in Switzerland. On 1 January 2018 the former municipality of Scherz merged into the municipality ...

, Ratsoavina, Vences & Glaw, 2020 *''

Calumma fallax ''Calumma fallax'', the deceptive chameleon or short-nosed deceptive chameleon is a species of chameleon endemic to eastern Madagascar, where its type locality is the Ikongo forest. It was first described by François Mocquard in 1900 as ''Ch ...

'' ( Mocquard, 1900) – deceptive chameleon *''

Calumma furcifer ''Calumma furcifer'', the “fork-nosed” chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in Madagascar, in the western Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of ...

'' ( Vaillant &

Grandidier Grandidier is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Alfred Grandidier (1836–1921), French naturalist and explorer *Ernest Grandidier (1833–1912), French industrialist, naturalist, and art collector, brother of Alfred *Guillaume G ...

, 1880) – forked chameleon *''

Calumma gallus The lance-nosed chameleon (''Calumma gallus''), also known as a blade chameleon, is Endemism, endemic to eastern Madagascar. Distribution and habitat This chameleon is found in eastern Madagascar, in several areas including Ambavaniasy, Ampasim ...

'' (Günther, 1877) – blade chameleon *'' Calumma gastrotaenia'' (Boulenger, 1888) – Perinet chameleon *'' Calumma gehringi'' Prötzel, Vences, Scherz, Vieites & Glaw, 2017 *'' Calumma glawi'' Böhme, 1997 – Glaw's chameleon *'' Calumma globifer'' (Günther, 1879) – globe-horned chameleon or flat-casqued chameleon *''

Calumma guibei ''Calumma guibei'', also known commonly as Guibé's chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. Etymology The specific name, ''guibei'', is in honor of French herpetologis ...

'' ( Hillenius, 1959) – Guibe's chameleon *'' Calumma guillaumeti'' (Brygoo, C. Blanc & Domergue, 1974) *'' Calumma hafahafa'' Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006 – bizarre-nosed chameleon *'' Calumma hilleniusi'' (Brygoo, C. Blanc & Domergue, 1973) *'' Calumma jejy'' Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006 – Marojejy Peak chameleon *'' Calumma juliae'' Prötzel, Vences, Hawlitschek, Scherz, Ratsoavina & Glaw, 2018 *'' Calumma lefona'' Prötzel, Vences, Hawlitschek, Scherz, Ratsoavina & Glaw, 2018 *'' Calumma linotum'' ( L. Müller, 1924) – Amber Mountain blue-nosed chameleon *''

Calumma malthe ''Calumma'' is a genus of chameleons, highly adapted and specialised lizards, in the family Chamaeleonidae. The genus is endemic to the island of Madagascar. One species, formerly known as ''Calumma tigris'' (the Seychelles tiger chameleon), was ...

'' (Günther, 1879) – yellow-green chameleon *'' Calumma marojezense'' (Brygoo, C. Blanc & Domergue, 1970) *''

Calumma nasutum ''Calumma nasutum'', the Madagascar pimple-nose chameleon, is a small species of chameleon found in Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous sm ...

'' (

A.M.C. Duméril AMC may refer to: Film and television * AMC Theatres, an American movie theater chain * AMC Networks, an American entertainment company ** AMC (TV channel) ** AMC+, streaming service ** AMC Networks International, an entertainment company *** AM ...

Bibron Gabriel Bibron (20 October 1805 – 27 March 1848) was a French zoologist and herpetologist. He was born in Paris. The son of an employee of the Museum national d'histoire naturelle, he had a good foundation in natural history and was hire ...

, 1836) – big-nosed chameleon, pimple-nose chameleon *'' Calumma oshaughnessyi'' (Günther, 1881) – O'Shaughnessy's chameleon *''

Calumma parsonii Parson's chameleon (''Calumma parsonii'') is a species of chameleon in the Family (biology), family Chamaeleonidae that is Endemism, endemic to eastern and northern Madagascar. It is found from lowlands to an altitude of above sea level and main ...

'' (

Cuvier Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric, baron Cuvier (23 August 1769 – 13 May 1832), known as Georges Cuvier (; ), was a French natural history, naturalist and zoology, zoologist, sometimes referred to as the "founding father of paleontology". Cuv ...

, 1824) – Parsons's chameleon *'' Calumma peltierorum'' Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006 – Peltier's chameleon *'' Calumma peyrierasi'' (Brygoo, C. Blanc & Domergue, 1974) – Brygoo's chameleon, Peyriéras's chameleon *'' Calumma radamanus'' (Mertens, 1933) *'' Calumma ratnasariae'' Prötzel, Scherz, Ratsoavina, Vences & Glaw, 2020 *'' Calumma roaloko'' Prötzel, Lambert, Andrianasolo, Hutter,

Cobb Cobb may refer to: People * Cobb (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the surname Cobb * Cobb Rooney (1900–1973), American professional football running back Places New Zealand * Cobb River * Cobb Reservoir * Cobb Power ...

, Scherz & Glaw, 2018 – Two-toned soft-nosed chameleon *'' Calumma tarzan'' Gehring, Pabijan, Ratsoavina, J. Köhler, Vences & Glaw, 2010 – Tarzan chameleon, Tarzan's chameleon *''

Calumma tjiasmantoi ''Calumma tjiasmantoi'' is a species of chameleon found in Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the s ...

'' Prötzel, Scherz, Ratsoavina, Vences & Glaw, 2020 *'' Calumma tsaratananense'' (Brygoo & Domergue, 1967) – Tsaratanana chameleon *'' Calumma tsycorne'' Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006 – blunt-nosed chameleon *''

Calumma uetzi ''Calumma uetzi'', Uetz's soft-nosed chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral ...

'' Prötzel, Vences, Hawlitschek, Scherz, Ratsoavina & Glaw, 2018 – Uetz's soft-nosed chameleon *'' Calumma vatosoa'' Andreone,

Mattioli Mattioli is an Italian surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Alessandro Mattioli (born 1998), Italian footballer *Carlo Mattioli (born 1954), Italian race walker * Denise Mattioli (born 1952), Brazilian volleyball player * Ercole Anto ...

, Jesu & Randrianirina, 2001 *'' Calumma vencesi'' Andreone, Mattioli, Jesu & Randrianirina, 2001 – Vences's chameleon *'' Calumma vohibola'' Gehring, Ratsoavina, Vences & Glaw, 2011 ''

Nota bene ( ; plural: ) is the Latin language, Latin phrase meaning ''note well''. In manuscripts, ''nota bene'' is abbreviated in upper-case as NB and N.B., and in lower-case as n.b. and nb; the editorial usages of ''nota bene'' and ''notate bene'' fi ...

'': A

binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, altho ...

in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Calumma''.

Species groups

''
Calumma furcifer ''Calumma furcifer'', the “fork-nosed” chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in Madagascar, in the western Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of ...
'' species group

''
Calumma cucullatum The hooded chameleon (''Calumma cucullatum'') is a Vulnerable species of chameleon endemic to north-east Madagascar; its geological type locality is Madagascar. It can be found in humid forests over an area of between above mean sea level. D ...
'' species group

''
Calumma nasutum ''Calumma nasutum'', the Madagascar pimple-nose chameleon, is a small species of chameleon found in Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous sm ...
'' species group

''
Calumma parsonii Parson's chameleon (''Calumma parsonii'') is a species of chameleon in the Family (biology), family Chamaeleonidae that is Endemism, endemic to eastern and northern Madagascar. It is found from lowlands to an altitude of above sea level and main ...
'' species group

Species

References

Further reading

Species groups

''Calumma furcifer ''Calumma furcifer'', the “fork-nosed” chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in Madagascar, in the western Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of ...'' species group

''Calumma cucullatum The hooded chameleon (''Calumma cucullatum'') is a Vulnerable species of chameleon endemic to north-east Madagascar; its geological type locality is Madagascar. It can be found in humid forests over an area of between above mean sea level. D ...'' species group

''Calumma nasutum ''Calumma nasutum'', the Madagascar pimple-nose chameleon, is a small species of chameleon found in Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous sm ...'' species group

''Calumma parsonii Parson's chameleon (''Calumma parsonii'') is a species of chameleon in the Family (biology), family Chamaeleonidae that is Endemism, endemic to eastern and northern Madagascar. It is found from lowlands to an altitude of above sea level and main ...'' species group

Species

References

Further reading

''
Calumma furcifer ''Calumma furcifer'', the “fork-nosed” chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in Madagascar, in the western Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of ...
'' species group

''
Calumma cucullatum The hooded chameleon (''Calumma cucullatum'') is a Vulnerable species of chameleon endemic to north-east Madagascar; its geological type locality is Madagascar. It can be found in humid forests over an area of between above mean sea level. D ...
'' species group

''
Calumma nasutum ''Calumma nasutum'', the Madagascar pimple-nose chameleon, is a small species of chameleon found in Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous sm ...
'' species group

''
Calumma parsonii Parson's chameleon (''Calumma parsonii'') is a species of chameleon in the Family (biology), family Chamaeleonidae that is Endemism, endemic to eastern and northern Madagascar. It is found from lowlands to an altitude of above sea level and main ...
'' species group