''Rhampholeon viridis'', the green pygmy chameleon, is a species of chameleons endemic to

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...

. Higher Taxa: Chamaeleonidae,

Sauria Sauria is the clade containing the most recent common ancestor of archosaurs (such as crocodilians, dinosaurs, etc.) and lepidosaurs (lizards and kin), and all its descendants. Since most molecular phylogenies recover turtles as more closely r ...

Squamata Squamata (, Latin ''squamatus'', 'scaly, having scales') is the largest order of reptiles, comprising lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians (worm lizards), which are collectively known as squamates or scaled reptiles. With over 10,900 species, i ...

(

lizards Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia a ...

)

Common Names In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

: Green Pygmy Chameleon Distribution:

(

South Pare Mountains The South Pare Mountains is a mountain range located entirely within Same District of Kilimanjaro Region of northern Tanzania, extending from Vumari ward on the border with Mwanga District to Kalemawe ward in on the border with Lushoto Distri ...

) Type Locality:

Tanga region Tanga Region (''Mkoa wa Tanga'' in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of . The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Burundi. The regional capital is the mu ...

, South Pare Mountains, from a patch of

forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

next to the Hingili stream, just north of the Shengena Mountain FR °14' 50" S, 37°59'28" E 1450 m elevation.

Etymology Etymology () The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the form of words ...

: The specific name derives from Latin "viridis" meaning "green," referring to the rich green coloration observed in males.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3429266 Rhampholeon Reptiles described in 2006 Taxa named by Colin R. Tilbury Reptiles of Tanzania