Chameleon
Chameleons or chamaeleons ( family Chamaeleonidae) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015. The members of this family are best known for their distinct range of colors, being capable of shifting to different hues and degrees of brightness. The large number of species in the family exhibit considerable variability in their capacity to change color. For some, it is more of a shift of brightness (shades of brown); for others, a plethora of color-combinations (reds, yellows, greens, blues) can be seen. Chameleons are distinguished by their zygodactylous feet, their prehensile tail, their laterally compressed bodies, their head casques, their projectile tongues, their swaying gait, and crests or horns on their brow and snout. Chameleons' eyes are independently mobile, and because of this there are two separate, individual images that the brain is analyzing of the chameleon’s environment. When hunting prey, th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Trioceros
''Trioceros'' is a genus of lizards in the family Chamaeleonidae. ''Trioceros'' was considered a subgenus of the genus '' Chamaeleo'' until 2009, when it was elevated to full genus level. Species and subspecies The following species and subspecies are recognized as being valid. ''Nota bene'': In the above list, a binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ... or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than ''Trioceros''. Footnotes References * (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . * (2009). "A re-appraisal of the systematics of the African genus ''Chamaeleo'' (Reptilia: Chamaeleonidae)". ''Zootaxa'' 207 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Bradypodion
''Bradypodion'' (meaning "slow-footed" in Greek) is one of six genera of chameleons within the "true" or "typical" chameleons ( Family Chamaeleonidae). They are native to southern Africa, and are sometimes collectively called South African dwarf chameleons. Some other small chameleons from eastern and central Africa are occasionally placed herein, but this is probably in error and not followed here. See also Systematics below and '' Kinyongia'' and '' Nadzikambia''. __TOC__ Species 20 species are currently recognized: Undescribed species * Emerald dwarf chameleon, ''Bradypodion'' sp. (Emerald) * ''Bradypodion'' sp. (Groendal) * ''Bradypodion'' sp. (Grootvadersbosch) * ''Bradypodion'' sp. (Jagersbos) Systematics Delimitation of ''Bradypodion'' has been controversial for some time. Most species seem readily distinguishable by morphological characteristics, but for some time the genus was used as a wastebin taxon for smaller chameleons from sub-Saharan Africa with plesiomor ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Calumma
''Calumma'' is a genus of chameleons endemic and restricted to Madagascar. The species formerly named ''Calumma tigris'' was transferred to the genus '' Archaius'' by Townsend et al., when they found that it is more closely related to '' Rieppeleon'' than to ''Calumma''. The oldest fossil of the genus is known from the Early Miocene of Kenya, showing that the genus originated in Africa. 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, while others are phylogenetically supported: '' Calumma furcifer'' 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. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Rhampholeon
''Rhampholeon'' is a genus of small chameleons, commonly known as pygmy chameleons or African leaf chameleons, found in central East Africa (extending slightly into adjacent DR Congo). They are found in forests, woodlands, thickets, and savanna, and most species are restricted to highlands. They are brown, grey, or green, and typically seen at low levels in bushes, or on the ground among grasses or leaf litter. Species The following 19 species are recognized as being valid."''Rhampholeon'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. *'' Rhampholeon acuminatus'' – Nguru pygmy chameleon *'' Rhampholeon beraduccii'' – Beraducci’s pygmy chameleon, Mahenge pygmy chameleon *'' Rhampholeon boulengeri'' – Boulenger's pygmy chameleon *'' Rhampholeon bruessoworum'' – Mount Inago pygmy chameleon *'' Rhampholeon chapmanorum'' – Chapmans's pygmy chameleon *'' Rhampholeon gorongosae'' – Mount Gorongosa pygmy chameleon *'' Rhampholeon hattinghi'' *'' Rhampholeon ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Furcifer
''Furcifer'' is a genus of chameleons whose member species are mostly endemic to Madagascar, but ''F. cephalolepis'' and ''F. polleni'' are endemic to the Comoros. Additionally, ''F. pardalis'' has been introduced to Réunion and Mauritius, while ''F. oustaleti'' has been introduced to near Nairobi in Kenya. Taxonomy The generic name () is derived from the Latin root meaning "forked" and refers to the shape of the animal's feet. The genus contains 24 species. Glaw F et al. (2009)A distinctive new species of chameleon of the genus ''Furcifer'' (Squamata: Chameleonidae) from the Montagne d'Ambre rainforest of northern Madagascar.''Zootaxa'' 2269: 32-42. Species The following species are recognized as being valid."''Furcifer'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal syste ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kinyongia ''Kinyongia'' (derived from the group's name in Kiswahili language) is a chameleon genus recently established for several plesiomorphic species found in forest and woodland in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and far eastern DR Congo. All except ''K. adolfifriderici'' and ''K. tavetana'' are restricted to highlands, and many have very small geographic ranges. In most, at least the males have horns or knobs on their noses. They had been placed into the genus ''Bradypodion'' for some time. It has recently been pointed out that the ending to the specific name (zoology), specific epithet in several of the |