Calumma tjiasmantoi
—
Ranomafana Nosed Chameleon
This species was split out from Calumma nasutum in 2020.
With the recent revision of this group of big-nosed chameleons, two species are known from Ranomafana: Calumma fallax and Calumma tjiasmantoi. They are quite similar, but one way to distinguish them is to count the scales on the upper lip (supralabials). On my full-resolution copy of this image I believe I can count 17 such scales, which would indicate that this individual is C. tjiasmantoi.
It wouldn't be Ranomafana without some Ranomafana Nosed Chameleons now, would it?
Here is a list of all the reptiles and frogs I saw on this 2023 trip to Madagascar.
I think these are all Calumma tjiasmantoi, but I wouldn't be shocked to discover that some of them are Calumma fallax instead.
Online references:
- Calumma tjiasmantoi account on The Reptile Database
- Untangling the trees: Revision of the Calumma nasutum complex (Squamata: Chameleonidae)
- Calumma tjiasmantoi account on iNaturalist
Printed references:
- Abate, A., and Abate, E. 2004. The Chameleons of Madagascar (DVD)
- Bradt, H., Schuurman, D., Garbutt, N. 1996. Madagascar Wildlife: A Visitor's Guide
- Glaw, F., Vences, M. 1994. A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Second Edition
- Glaw, F., Vences, M. 2007. A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Third Edition
- Henkel, F., Schmidt, W. 2000. Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar and the Mascarene, Seychelles, and Comoro Islands
- Martin, J., Wolfe, A. 1992. Masters of Disguise: A Natural History of Chameleons
- Necas, P. 1999. Chameleons: Nature's Hidden Jewels
- Preston-Mafham, K. 1991. Madagascar: A Natural History