Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus (LAURENTI, 1768)
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus?
Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus
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| Higher Taxa | Agamidae (Draconinae), Sauria, Iguania, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Chameleon Forest Dragon, Chameleon Anglehead Lizard G: Chamäleon-Winkelkopfagame |
| Synonym | Iguana chamaeleontina LAURENTI 1768: 47 Agama gigantea KUHL 1820 (fide BOULENGER 1885) Agama tigrina MERREM 1820 Lophyrus tigrinus — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1837: 421 (fide BOULENGER 1885) Galeotes lophyrus SCHLEGEL 1844 (fide BOULENGER 1885) Lophyrus sumatranus SCHLEGEL 1848 (fide BARBOUR 1912) Gonyocephalus chamaeleontinus — BOULENGER 1885: 285 Gonyocephalus sumatranus — BOULENGER 1885: 286 Gonyocephalus chamaeleontinus — DE ROOIJ 1915: 102 Gonyocephalus sumatranus — DE ROOIJ 1915: 103 Goniocephalus chamaeleontinus — HENDRICKSON 1966: 60 Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus — MANTHEY & GROSSMANN 1997: 180 Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus — COX et al. 1998: 95 Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus — MANTHEY & SCHUSTER 1999: 58 Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus — GRISMER 2011 Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus — GRISMER & QUAH 2019 |
| Distribution | Indonesia (Mentewei I, Sumatra, Bangka, Natuna I, Java, Nias, Sipora, Siberut, Bangkaru, Tuangku, Banyak Islands, Tanahmasa), West Malaysia, Pahang (Pulau Tioman) Type locality: “America” (in error) |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: Iconotype (Seba. 1: 157, pl. 100 fig. 2); orginal type lost (fide Manthey & Denzer 1993: 26 who announced to designate a neotype; we are not aware of any publication in which this happened though). |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (genus): Gonocephalus species are robust and medium to large sized (SVL about 100–180 mm) with laterally compressed body, The genus can be separated from all other draconinae genera by small granulated dorsal/lateral scales, homogeny or intermixed with some greater ones, tympanum naked; spines on the head absent, antehumeral and gular fold present, nuchal crest present, lower dorsal crest sometimes reduced to a serrated ridge or absent; beside the nuchal and dorsal crest (if present) one or more rows of scales which are different in size and form from the dorsal scales. 4 species groups can be distinguished on the basis of morphological similarities 1.) Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus group: Nuchal and dorsal crest continuous; superciliary ridge forming an angle above posterior margin of eye; tails relative short (TL/SVL 1,4–2); males and females look very similar; 2.) Gonocephalus bellii group: Nuchal and dorsal crest continuous; superciliary ridge round; tails medium long (TL/SVL >2–2,8); males with much higher vertebral crest than females; 3.) Gonocephalus semperi group: Nuchal and dorsal crest more or less interrupted; superciliary ridge round; tails medium long to long (TL/SVL >1,9–3,2) males and females look similar; 4.) Gonocephalus megalepis group: Nuchal and dorsal crest clearly interrupted; superciliary ridge round; tails laterally extremely flattened, medium long (TL/SVL >1,6–2,2); males and females look similar; 5.) Gonocephalus grandis group: separate nuchal crest of overlapping scales (males) or skin flap-like (females), dorsal crest in females absent; superciliary ridge round; tails medium long (TL/SVL >2,7–2,8); males and females look extremely dissimilar (after Manthey & Denzer 1991, modified). |
| Comment | Synonymy mostly after WERMUTH 1967. Type species: Lophyrus tigrinus DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1837 is the type species of the genus Gonocephalus KAUP 1825 (fide WERMUTH 1967). Gonocephalus GÜNTHER 1854 is a genus of Teleostei (fish). Lophyrus DUMÉRIL 1805 is preoccupied by Lophyrus POLI 1791 (Mollusca) and other genera called Lophyrus (see WERMUTH 1967: 55). Note that the name Gonyocephalus is an emendation introduced by Wagler (1830) albeit Kaup originally used Gonocephalus and later amended it to Goniocephalus. According to ICZN 51.3.1. “Parentheses are not used when the species-group name was originally combined with an incorrect spelling or an emendation of the generic name (this applies even though an unjustified emendation is an available name with its own authorship and date [Art. 33.2.3]).” |
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