Calumma brevicorne (GÜNTHER, 1879)
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Calumma brevicorne
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| Higher Taxa | Chamaeleonidae, Sauria, Iguania, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | Calumma brevicorne brevicorne GÜNTHER 1879 Calumma brevicorne tsarafidyi BRYGOO & DOMERGUE 1970 |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Chamaeleon brevicornis GÜNTHER 1879: 148 Chamaeleon gularis GÜNTHER 1879: 149 Chamaeleo brevicornis brevicornis — BRYGOO & DOMERGUE 1970 Chamaeleo brevicornis — BRYGOO 1971 Calumma brevicornis brevicornis — KLAVER & BÖHME 1986 Calumma brevicornis — GLAW & VENCES 1994: 245 Calumma brevicornis — NECAS 1999: 238 Calumma brevicorne — LUTZMANN & LUTZMANN 2004 Calumma brevicorne — CAMPBELL & DENZER 2020 Calumma brevicorne tsarafidyi BRYGOO & DOMERGUE 1970 Chamaeleo brevicornis tsarafidyi — BRYGOO & DOMERGUE 1970: 319 Calumma brevicornis tsarafidyi — KLAVER & BÖHME 1997 |
| Distribution | E/N Madagascar, elevation ~900 m. tsarafidyi: Toliara Province,; Type locality: “Forêt du Tsarafidyi, sous-prefecture d'Ambohimahasoa, Madagascar” Type locality: Madagascar (near Antananarivo, foret de Tsarafidyi, sous-prefecture d’Ambohimahasoa) gularis: Type locality: near Antananarivo, Madagascar |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: BMNH 1946.8.21.41, male Holotype: NHMUK 1946.8.21.50, female (previously NHMUK 1880.7.15.2), [gularis] Holotype: MNHN-RA 1993.0172 (formerly MNHN-RA A0172) [tsarafidyi] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A Calumma chameleon from Madagascar that differs from all congeners by the combination of a male single ossified rostral appendage projecting at least 2.5 mm (anterior to the mouth), which is laterally flattened, with three longitudinal scale rows at base in lateral view; adult SVL 90–170 mm; and a pair of large occipital lobes that are dorsally united to each other by up to 3 mm in adult. Calumma brevicorne is most similar to C. amber and C. crypticum, but can be distinguished by its male rostral appendage (laterally flattened, with three longitudinal scale rows at base in lateral view vs. dorsoventrally flattened, with two longitudinal scale rows), large adult SVL (110–170 mm vs. ,117 mm), and occipital lobe size (al ways reaches a level at or below ventral margin of eye vs. may only reach a level above ventral margin of the eye). [from RAXWORTHY & NUSSBAUM 2006]. |
| Comment | Chamaeleo brevicornis hilleniusi BRYGOO, BLANC & DOMERGUE, 1973 has been elevated to full species status. The status of the subspecies Calumma brevicorne tsarafidyi (Brygoo and Domergue, 1970) has remained uncertain since it was first described. It is known from a single male specimen that differs from nominal Calumma brevicorne only by its bizarre indented and reduced occipital lobes (a condition unknown for any other chameleon species). The describing authors suggested this specimen might actually represent either a distinct species, or else an aberrantly developed individual. C.J. Raxworthy examined the holotype (MNHN A-172), and RAXWORTHY & NUSSBAUM (2006) conclude that this is a typical adult male Calumma brevicorne with mutilated occipital lobes. The large size of this male (130 mm SVL) and form of the rostral appendage (with 5-mm projection) all fit diagnostic features typical of C. brevicorne. |
| Etymology | Named after Latin brevis = short and cornu = horn. |
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