Two-horned chameleon
| Two-horned chameleon | ||||||||||||
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Two-horned chameleon ( Kinyongia tavetana ), ♂ sleeping |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Kinyongia tavetana | ||||||||||||
| ( Steindachner , 1891) |
The Zweihorn chameleon ( Kinyongia tavetana , Syn. : Bradypodion tavetanum ) is counted with other types and their subtypes to a group of chameleon, the males have two horns. Since these can therefore also be called “ two-horned chameleons” , such as Kinyongia fischeri which is called “Usambara Two-horned Chameleon” in English, only the use of the scientific name Kinyongia tavetana can avoid confusion.
Group of two-horned chameleons
The following Kinyongia species belong to the group of two-horned chameleons, which is referred to as the " Kinyongia fischeri " group :
- K. fischeri ( Reichenow , 1887)
- K. matschiei ( Werner , 1895)
- K. vosseleri ( Nieden , 1913)
- K. multituberculata ( Nieden , 1913)
- K. uluguruensis ( Loverbridge , 1957)
- K. excubitor ( Barbour , 1922)
- K. tavetana ( Steindachner , 1891)
- K. boehmei Lutzmann & Necas , 2002
habitat
Kinyongia tavetana lives endemically in some East African mountain areas at altitudes between 800 and 2700 m (Mt. Kilimanjaro , Mt. Meru, North Pare Mts., The population in the Kenyan Taita Hills is now accepted as an independent species " Kinyongia boehmei " and therefore does not count more about Kinyongia tavetana).
Adults ( adult ) animals are mainly found on trees and bushes, while younger animals are found in the grass or on smaller bushes.
The average daytime temperatures in the distribution area are around 22–24 ° C and drop to around 12–16 ° C at night. The relative humidity is around 80 percent in the morning and can drop below 50 percent during the day.
features
Kinyongia tavetana has a pronounced sexual dimorphism , which manifests itself in the horns, body size, the crest of the back, the color and the thickened base of the tail.
The males have two clearly recognizable false horns, while these are only weakly or not at all pronounced in the females.
Kinyongia tavetana is a small species of chameleon. The males can reach a total length of up to 20 cm, the females stay a little smaller.
Furthermore, the back crest is more pronounced in the males than in the females. The two subspecies K. t. tavetana and K. t. boehmei differentiate. The former shows a rather smooth back, while the K. t. boehmei clear prickly scales can be seen.
In the males, brown, green and even gray can appear as the basic color. (Side) stripes and bands can be colored green, whitish or orange. The females show less patterning. They are greenish to brownish in color and can have a red "crown" on the head. Like most chameleon species, Kinyongia tavetana can change its color within certain limits. Sleeping animals appear less colorful.
literature
- Jean Mariaux, Nicola Lutzmann, Jan Stipala: The two-horned chamaeleons of East Africa. In: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Vol. 152, No. 2, 2008, pp. 367-391, doi : 10.1111 / j.1096-3642.2007.00332.x .
- Petr Nečas: chameleons. Colorful jewels of nature. 3rd improved and revised edition. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main 2004, ISBN 3-930612-02-X .
- T. Stegemann: keeping and breeding of Bradypodion tavetanum (Steindachner, 1891). In: Sauria. Vol. 19, No. 2, 1997, ISSN 0176-9391 , pp. 13-19.
