West African Chameleon ID help

[Kamerus88]

Hey everyone!

First time poster here. Last October-January I was blessed enough to be doing some conservation work in Ghana, West Africa. I came across three separate chameleons that I'm having issues Identifying. I believe they are either C.gracilis or C.senegalensis but I don't have much experience with chameleon taxonomy so I'm not positive. Hopefully someone could help me out with some ideas!

Many thanks!

Chameleon 1) Moved from a parking lot

Chameleon 2) Saved from a burning bush

Chameleon 3) Also saved from fires

 

[Lizardlover]

Looks like senegalensis to me.

 

[Kamerus88]

Thanks for the input! any particular reason you think so? any sort of ID traits I can use for future trips?!

 

[Lizardlover]

Normally gracilis have small occipital lobes, senegalensis have nothing aside from a small casque.

 

[laurie]

Hello welcome to the forum. Thanks for saving those chams from fires. The one crossing the street might have had a chance, but those two being lost in a fire is awful.

Lizard Lover (Danny) knows his stuff, so you can count on his info. You can also goggle each of the two chams and see the difference, not that you know what to look for.

 

[Kamerus88]

Thanks again guys. I focus mostly on Turtle and Crocodillian biology. So thanks for helping me get my ID's straight on those Chams!

 

[Trace]

I’m going to take the contrary position and say I think those are all gracilis. The Gracefuls don’t always have the occipital lobes but it looks like there are small rudimentary ones on those specimens. The casque is also higher and the white lateral stripe is more pronounced than a Senegal. The stress patterns are more reminiscent of a Graceful.

The first two are females and the last one is a male.

 

[okiroo]

im not gr8 on ID but i'd like to say thanks for saveing them!