Never be4 seen chameleon species

I am sure some of you chameleon enthusiasts have seen this.
But, I thought I should share for the rest of us who do not know.
They have found a NEW colorful PYGMY chameleon in mozambique (If i am not mistaken, this is quite recent as in Dec 21, 2008).
http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/01/mount_mabu.html


here is the link to some other new species they found. There are 2 chameleons there:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2008/dec/21/new-species-wildlife-mozambique?lightbox=1

Such wonderful creatures!
Now, somebody need to tell the guy not to hold a chameleon like that!

Wow! Another reason to travel to Africa!

dodolah said:

Now, somebody need to tell the guy not to hold a chameleon like that!

Click to expand...

It's a pygmy - it probably caught him by surprise by going limp and vibrating at him, and he was trying not to drop it. Cool!

I've read a number of articles about this and I've not yet seen one that specifically states that the pygmy chameleon they found is a new species. I know they found a number of new species but they haven't said that the pygmy cham is one to the best of my knowledge. It may very well be but if memory serves me (I keep meaning to pull out a couple of my books to double check) it looks similar to Rh. platyceps and Mt. Mabu is only about 100km from Mt. Mulanje where one of the subspecies of Rh. platyceps is found.

Chris

Chris knows everything

That blue on that piggy is awesome.

I sent that link to my family in mozambique. They're about 70 or so kilometers from that mountain. They said they're not surprised, that that particluar province is know to be mostly "bush" (as they call it out there).

What province is Mt. Mulanje in Chris?

Royden,

Any chance your family are also photographers interested in photographing chameleons/going to Mt. Mulanje just on the other side of the Malawi boarder to photograph a few species for me?

Chris

Ha! I could ask. My aunt takes some great photos. She has a little point and shoot. They're always sending me photos of flapnecks they find in their garden to try to get me to visit. Which my wife and I plan on doing eventually. Then I'll get your photos for you. But probably not in time for your book.

My family (actually my wifes family) have a farm, school, and clinic near the zimbabwe border.

By the way.. I located this Mt. Mabu by comparing the satellite photos in some of the articles to google earth.

very interesting chams, exotic and fascinating.

Rh. platyceps and Mt. Mabu is only about 100km from Mt. Mulanje where one of the subspecies of Rh. platyceps is found.


yeah it does look like platyceps.. this article is absolutely facinating! thanks so much for sharing it! im going to go use google earth now

Royden,

In the map you posted, if you look just Northwest of Mt. Mabu on the map, just inside the Malawi boarder in the corner that kind of peak out into Mozambique, there is a gray box on Mt. Mulanje.

Chris