Help with identification of Chameleon species from Uganda

[rudolfwessels]

Dear all, this is my first post on this forum, but recently I have been to Uganda and found several species of Chameleon. I made some clear pictures but still I'm not able to identify them for 100% based on the book I have (Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa - from Spawls, Howell and Drewes). Please help me with the identification. I will add the pictures in batches per finding (total of 3).

Thanks. Rudolf Wessels

 

[rudolfwessels]

Two more of the same species and individual. The last one I took during the day (when I found it again at daylight).

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. I know we are not suppose to guess here but it looks like Tate, a little guy I use to have. He was a Graceful (Chamaeleo gracilis) it could also be a Chamaeleo senegalensis.
When Chris Anderson sees this he will be able to give you a positive ID.

 

[rudolfwessels]

Thanks. Based on a distribution map (I found this specimen close to lake Albert) it could be Chamaelo gracilis or Chamaelo laevigatus. It actually also looks quite similar to Chamaelo dilepis, but this one should not be expected in this area (only 300 km south).

 

[Chris Anderson]

As Jann indicated, the animals in your first two posts are Chamaeleo gracilis. Chamaeleo dilepis would have larger occipital lobes, while Chamaeleo laevigatus would have none and would also lack the strong dorsal crest.

Thanks for sharing! Let us know if you have other chameleon photos you'd like help IDing!

Chris

 

[rudolfwessels]

OK, thanks. As you seem to be quite sure, I will mark it as gracilis. Now the other species that I have found. Please see attached pictures. All are the same individual I found it in Bwindi Impenetrable forest in Uganda. Greetings, Rudolf

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Thanks for posting Rudolf! If you have more picture from your travels or of other chameleons post them.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[Chris Anderson]

Hi Rudolf,

This chameleon in your latest post is a female Trioceros johnstoni. They are quite common in Bwindi.

Chris

 

[rudolfwessels]

Thanks people! I have seen many many more chameleons during my trips, but in Uganda only one more. It crossed the road so we stopped to make a picture. See attached. Might be another gracilis.

 

[Chris Anderson]

Yep, another Chamaeleo gracilis. Please feel free to share photos of other chameleons you've seen during your travels as well. We always enjoy seeing photos of these animals in the field!

Chris

 

[carol5208]

Awesome photos! And Chris you sure know your species!!!

 

[rudolfwessels]

OK, please find attached some pictures of chameleons I found in Madagascar. Is there also anyone on this forum that has expertise in snakes, praying mantae and or stick insects and frogs

? Would be nice to have some support for the identification of some non-chameleons that I encountered during my trip to Uganda. Regards, Rudolf

 

[Chris Anderson]

Beautiful shots, thanks for sharing. Not sure if you already have IDs on the Malagasy chameleon species, but in case you don't, Images 1-3, 6, 8, & 9 are Furcifer pardalis. Image 4 appears to be Calumma brevicorne (although if photographed on Amber Mountain like the following photo, it would be Calumma amber). Image 5 appears to be Brookesia tuberculata (photographed on Amber Mountain, correct?) and image 7 is a female Furcifer petteri.

Chris

 

[jannb]

OK, please find attached some pictures of chameleons I found in Madagascar. Is there also anyone on this forum that has expertise in snakes, praying mantae and or stick insects and frogs Regards, Rudolf

Nick Barta knows allot about mantis, stick insects and many other bugs.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/members/nick-barta.5275/

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Rudolf

Thanks for posting more pictures from your travels! Have you got more pictures of chameleon species from other parts of mainland Africa and Madagascar?

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[medgecko]

If I had the cham in pic 4, he'd get named Dobbie.