Short-horned chameleon
| Short-horned chameleon | ||||||||||||
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male short-horned chameleon |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Calumma brevicorne | ||||||||||||
| (Günther , 1879) |
The short-horned chameleon ( Calumma brevicorne ) is a species of the Chamaeleonidae family that is endemic to Madagascar . This species was described by Günther in 1879 .
features
The relatively large chameleon has pronounced occipital lobes that are clearly separated from each other. A crown crest is hardly pronounced, the rostral crests can be found in both sexes. In males, a 3 to 5 millimeter long, hard nasal appendage forms from the rostral ridges. The rostral ridges are also fused in the females, but do not form such a structure. There is a stomach comb, as well as one on the neck. The back ridge shows no periodic pattern in the size of the individual cusps. The scaling is heterogeneous. The animals are mostly gray and brown in color and have sloping, darker areas on the sides.
C. crypticum and C. amber look very similar to the short-horned chameleon and can mainly be distinguished by their coloration.
habitat
The short-horned chameleon lives in the northern and eastern areas of the Malagasy rainforest at altitudes between 800 and 1000 m . It prefers primary habitats, but can also occur in disturbed habitats.
behavior
Behaviors of this kind correspond to the general pattern that can be observed for many chameleons: If the animals, which normally live as solitary animals, meet, for example at mating season, they change their color. This is more for communication between the animals than a camouflage. Part of the males' courtship behavior are also jerky head movements and an enlargement of the throat pouch. The occipital lobes can be set up both during courtship and in danger. Like all chameleons in Madagascar, this species is oviparous .
literature
- Frank Glaw , Miguel Vences : Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. 3. Edition. Vences & Glaw, Cologne 2007, ISBN 978-3-929449-03-7 .
Web links
- Calumma brevicorne in The Reptile Database
- Calumma brevicorne inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: Jenkins, RKB, Andreone, F., Andriamazava, A., Anjeriniaina, M., Glaw, F., Rabibisoa, N., Rakotomalala, D., Randrianantoandro, JC, Randrianiriana, J., Randrianizahana, H. , Ratsoavina, F., Robsomanitrandrasana, E. & Carpenter, A., 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2013.