Undescribed species, Rhampholeon (Rhinodigitum) sp. "Nguru"

Here is a species found along with R (Rhin.). acuminatus on Nguru Mountain in Tanzania. First I thought it was a R. (Rhin.) beraduccii, but after carefully reading Mariaux and Tibury (2006), I saw that the specimens originally referred to as possible Tanzania specimens of Rhin. (R.) boulengeri, it is a possibly undescribed species of the Rhin. (R.) uluguruensis complex.

They differ from R. (Rhin.) uluguruensis I have imported and seen mainly based on the size of the male. I received a single male and he is 3 times the size of R. (Rhin.) uluguruensis males.

I also noticed they are not nearly as aggressive as R. (Rhin.) uluguruensis, but I need additional animals to know their behavior as this male was weak when he came in. He died after a month in captivity. He came in with his tongue out of his mouth and dried up, so it had to be amputated off. He ate, drank, and looked well, but never moved around much.

Either way, enjoy the photo, it’s the only one I was able to get.

Justyn,

Have you keyed it out using the various Rhampholeon keys available? The size of the male really isn't enough to say its a new species as it could just be a very old, large specimen. I'm not saying it isn't a new species but I'd be curious how it keys out. Did you preserve the specimen and did it come in with other "similar" specimens?

Chris

I fixed the specimen in formaldehyde and he is currently preserved in 190 proof alcohol. I took a section of the liver and preserved it straight in 190 proof alcohol, it will be cryogenically frozen at UTA. I will deposit these at UTA at some point in the future. I do this will ALL my deceased animals, figure it will help someone at one point.

I keyed it out based on the key avilable in Mariaux and Tibury (2006). They refer to the previously mentioned R. (Rhin.) boulgengeri specimens collected in Nguru as part of the
Rhin. (R.) uluguruensis complex. This specimen was collected in Nguru, and he may be an old male. I have just never seen such large male R. (Rhin.) uluguruensis before.

I am basing the "new" species on the information presented in Mariaux and Tibury (2006) referring to the specimens at Nguru. They placed it under Rhin. (R.) uluguruensis, but I believe, based on their results of the DNA sequencing, that it will be described as a new species some point soon.

Chris Anderson said:

Justyn,

Have you keyed it out using the various Rhampholeon keys available? The size of the male really isn't enough to say its a new species as it could just be a very old, large specimen. I'm not saying it isn't a new species but I'd be curious how it keys out. Did you preserve the specimen and did it come in with other "similar" specimens?

Chris

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Very interesting Justyn, pity about the tongue and death.
Well done for preserving the body!
T.

Keep us updated on this work Justyn... Very interesting. Thanks!

I wish I had some "serious" work being done about this. Right now I am just keeping them in captivity. Maybe in the future.....

I am setting up a pretty cool temporal gland study in Jackson's chameleon. That should be interesting and hopefully give us a better idea of the usage of temporal glands in chameleons.

SoCaliSon said:

Keep us updated on this work Justyn... Very interesting. Thanks!

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Rhampholeon acuminatus

Hallo,

I keep them in captivity, and they doing well ;-)

This are a few pics of the male

Rhampholeon acuminatus

Hallo,

Here are some of my female Rh. acuminatus

This topic is not about acuminatus but about a Undescribed species, Rhampholeon (Rhinodigitum) sp. "Nguru".
If you take a good look at the picture from Justyn, you will see the difference.

Rgds

beautifull picts.

Those are fantastic little things. Thank you for sharing.

I´m sad too hear about your sp.

maybe Colin tilbury have "your" sp. in his new book
(I don´t know about the release date) the only thing I have heard was late 08 the title : chameleons of the world it was in spring I found that info I don´t know how much is changed

BocaJan said:

Those are fantastic little things. Thank you for sharing.

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No thanks! I will put more pictures of this specie in this topic