Chameleon Care &
Information Center (CCIC)
Chameleon Care &
Information Center (CCIC)
Individual species profiles are still under construction and once completed will be regularly updated with current information.
Below is a current list of recognized chameleon taxa and a single common name. Once species profiles are completed, you will be able to click any taxa to view available photos and information on that species/subspecies. If you have high quality photos you’d be willing to allow me to use for a species profile, please email me.
I have done my best to maintain a current and accurate list of recognized taxa based on the most current taxonomy. As taxonomy is an an ever-changing science, if you feel I’ve missed a species, subspecies, genus or failed to utilize a current taxonomic breakdown, please contact me.
I’ve purposely only utilized a single common name for each species. Common names are unofficial by their very nature and thus are cursed with confusion surrounding their use and assignment. The common names I’ve used are those that I feel are the most accurate and hopefully help to avoid confusion as to which taxa it refers to. By recognizing only a single common name per taxa, I am seeking to maintain clarity in my own works when I choose to utilize common names. If you feel another common name is more appropriate for a given taxa, I’d be happy to hear your rational and will consider altering the common name I endorse and utilize. If you’d like to discuss my choice of common name, please email me.
Family: Chamaeleonidae Gray, 1825
Subfamily: Brookesiinae Angel, 1942
Genus: Brookesia Gray, 1865
B.ambreensis Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995: Mt. Amber Leaf Chameleon
B.antakarana Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995: Antakarana Leaf Chameleon
B.bekolosy Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995: Bekolosy Leaf Chameleon
B.betschi Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1974: Betsch’s Leaf Chameleon
B.bonsi Ramanantsoa, 1980: Bons’ Leaf Chameleon
B.brunoi Crottini, Miralles, Glaw, Harris, Lima & vences, 2012: Bruno’s Brown Leaf Chameleon
B.brygooi Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995: Brygoo’s Leaf Chameleon
B.confidens Glaw, Köhler, Townsend & Vences, 2012: Ankarana Minute Leaf Chameleon
B.decaryi Angel, 1939: Decary’s Leaf Chameleon
B.dentata Mocquard, 1900: Toothed Minute Leaf Chameleon
B.desperata Glaw, Köhler, Townsend & Vences, 2012: Forêt d’Ambre Minute Leaf Chameleon
B.ebenaui (Boettger, 1880): Ebenau’s Northern Leaf Chameleon
B.exarmata Schimmenti & Jesu, 1996: Antsingy Unarmed Leaf Chameleon
B.griveaudi Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1974: Griveaud’s Marojejy Leaf Chameleon
B.karchei Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1970: Karche’s Leaf Chameleon
B.lambertoni Brygoo & Domergue, 1970: Fito Leaf Chameleon
B.lineata Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995: Lined Leaf Chameleon
B.micra Glaw, Köhler, Townsend & Vences, 2012: Nosy Hara Minute Leaf Chameleon
B.minima Boettger, 1893: Nosy Be Minute Leaf Chameleon
B.perarmata (Angel, 1933): Antsingy Armored Leaf Chameleon
B.peyrierasi Brygoo & Domergue, 1975: Peyrieras’ Minute Leaf Chameleon
B.ramanantsoai Brygoo & Domergue, 1975: Ramanantsoa’s Minute Leaf Chameleon
B.stumpffi Boettger, 1894: Plated Leaf Chameleon
B.superciliaris (Kuhl, 1820): Horned Leaf Chameleon
B.tedi Glaw, Scherz, Köhler, Rakotoarison, Glaw & Vences, 2019: Marojejy Minute Leaf Chameleon
B.therezieni Brygoo & Domergue, 1970: Perinet Leaf Chameleon
B.thieli Brygoo & Domergue, 1969: Domergue’s Leaf Chameleon
B.tristis Glaw, Köhler, Townsend & Vences, 2012: Montagne des Français Minute Leaf Chameleon
B.tuberculata Mocquard, 1894: Montagne d’Ambre Minute Leaf Chameleon
B.vadoni Brygoo & Domergue, 1968: Iaraka River Leaf Chameleon
B.valerieae Raxworthy, 1991: Valerie’s Leaf Chameleon
Genus: Palleon Glaw, Hawlitschek & Ruthensteiner, 2013
P. lolontany (Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995): Mountain Spirit Leaf Chameleon
P. nasus nasus (Boulenger, 1887): Elongate Leaf Chameleon
P.nasus pauliani (Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1972): Paulian’s Elongate Leaf Chameleon
Subfamily: Chamaeleoninae gray, 1825
Genus: Archaius Gray, 1865
A. tigris (Kuhl, 1820): Tiger Chameleon
Genus: Bradypodion Gitzinger, 1843
Bd. atromontanum Branch, Tolley & Tilbury, 2006: Swartberg Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. caeruleogula Raw & Brothers, 2008: Eshowe Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. caffer (Boettger, 1889): Pondo Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. damaranum (Boulenger, 1887): Knysna Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. dracomontanum Raw, 1976: Drakensberg Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. gutturale (Smith, 1849): Little Karoo Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. kentanicum (Hewitt, 1935): Kentani Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. melanocephalum (Gray, 1865): KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. nemorale Raw, 1978: Qudeni Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. ngomeense Tilbury & Tolley, 2009: Ngome Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. occidentale (Hewitt, 1935): Western Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. pumilum (Gmelin, 1789): Cape Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. setaroi Raw, 1976: Setaro’s Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. taeniabronchum (Smith, 1831): Elandsberg Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. thamnobates Raw, 1976: Natal Midlands Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. transvaalense (FitzSimons, 1930): Wolkberg Dwarf Chameleon
Bd. ventrale (Gray, 1845): Eastern Cape Dwarf Chameleon
Genus: Calumma Gray, 1865
C. amber Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006: Amber Chameleon
C.ambreense (Ramanantsoa, 1974): Mt. Amber Globe-horned Chameleon
C.andringitraense (Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1972): Andringitra Side-striped Chameleon
C.boettgeri (Boulenger, 1888): Boettger’s Blue-nosed Chameleon
C.brevicorne (Günther, 1879): Short-horned Chameleon
C.capuroni (Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1972): Capuron’s Chameleon
C.crypticum Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006: Cryptic Chameleon
C.cucullatum (Gray, 1831): Hooded Chameleon
C.fallax (Mocquard, 1900): Deceptive Chameleon
C.furcifer (Vaillant & Grandidier, 1880): Fork-nosed Chameleon
C.gallus (Günther, 1877): Long-nosed Chameleon
C.gastrotaenia (Boulenger, 1888): Madagascar Side-striped Chameleon
C.gehringi Prötzel, Vences, Scherz, Vieites & Glaw, 2017: Gehring’s Chameleon
C.glawi Böhme, 1997: Glaw’s Side-striped Chameleon
C.globifer (Günther, 1879): Globe-horned Chameleon
C.guibei (Hillenius, 1959): Guibe’s Chameleon
C.guillaumeti (Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1974): Guillaumet’s Side-striped Chameleon
C.hafahafa Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006: Bizarre-nosed Chameleon
C.hilleniusi (Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1973): Hillenius’ Short-horned Chameleon
C.jejy Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006: Marojejy Peak Chameleon
C.juliae Prötzel, Vences, Hawlitschek, Scherz, Ratsoavina & Glaw, 2018: Julia’s Chameleon
C.lefona Prötzel, Vences, Hawlitschek, Scherz, Ratsoavina & Glaw, 2018: Spear-nosed Chameleon
C. linotum (Müller, 1924): Mt. Amber Blue-nosed Chameleon
C.malthe (Günther, 1879): Malthe’s Green-eared Chameleon
C.marojezense (Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1970): Marojejy Side-striped Chameleon
C.nasutum (Duméril & Bibron, 1836): Leaf-nosed Chameleon
C.oshaughnessyi (Günther, 1881): O’Shaughnessy’s Chameleon
C.parsonii parsonii (Cuvier, 1824): Parson’s Chameleon
C.parsonii cristifer (Methuen & Hewitt, 1913): Crested Parson’s Chameleon
C.peltierorum Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006: Peltiers’ Chameleon
C.peyrierasi (Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1974): Peyrieras’ Side-striped Chameleon
C.roaloko Prötzel, Lambert, Andrianasolo, Hutter, Cobb, Scherz & Glaw, 2018: Two-toned Soft-nosed Chameleon
C. tarzan Gehring, Pabijan, Ratsoavina, Köhler, Vences & Glaw, 2010: Tarzan’s Side-striped Chameleon
C.tsaratananense (Brygoo & Domergue, 1968): Tsaratanana Chameleon
C.tsycorne Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 2006: Blunt-nosed Chameleon
C.uetzi Prötzel, Vences, Hawlitschek, Scherz, Ratsoavina & Glaw, 2018: Uetz’s Chameleon
C.vatosoa Andreone, Mattiolo, Jesu & Randrianirina, 2001: Beautiful Stone Chameleon
C.vencesi Andreone, Mattiolo, Jesu & Randrianirina, 2001: Vences’ Side-striped Chameleon
C.vohibola Gehring, Ratsoavina, Vences & Glaw, 2011: Vohibola Forest Chameleon
Genus: Chamaeleo Laurenti, 1768
Ch. africanus Laurenti, 1768: African Chameleon
Ch. anchietae Bocage, 1872: Angola Double-scaled Chameleon
Ch. arabicus Matschie, 1893: Arabian Chameleon
Ch. calcaricarens Böhme, 1985: Awash Spurless Chameleon
Ch. calyptratus calyptratus Duméril & Duméril, 1851: Veiled Chameleon
Ch. calyptratus calcarifer Peters, 1869: Short-casqued Veiled Chameleon
Ch. chamaeleon chamaeleon (Linnaeus, 1758): European Common Chameleon
Ch. chamaeleon musae Steindachner, 1901: Sinai Peninsula Common Chameleon
Ch. chamaeleon orientalis Parker, 1938: Arabian Common Chameleon
Ch. chamaeleon recticrista Boettger, 1880: Middle East Common Chameleon
Ch. dilepis dilepis Leach, 1819: Flap-necked Chameleon
Ch. dilepis idjwiensis Loveridge, 1942: Idjwi Island Flap-necked Chameleon
Ch. dilepis isabellinus Günther, 1893: Isabelline Flap-necked Chameleon
Ch. dilepis martensi Mertens, 1964: Pemba Island Flap-necked Chameleon
Ch. dilepis petersii Gray, 1865: Peters’ Flap-necked Chameleon
Ch. dilepis quilensis Bocage, 1866: Quilo River Flap-necked Chameleon
Ch. dilepis roperi Boulenger, 1890: Roper’s Flap-necked Chameleon
Ch. dilepis ruspolii Boettger, 1893: Ruspoli’s Ogaden Flap-necked Chameleon
Ch. gracilis gracilis Hallowell, 1842: Slender Chameleon
Ch. gracilis etiennei Schmidt, 1919: Etienne’s Slender Chameleon
Ch. laevigatus Gray, 1863: Smooth Chameleon
Ch. monachus Gray, 1865: Socotran Chameleon
Ch. namaquensis Smith, 1831: Namaqua Chameleon
Ch. necasi Ullenbruch, Krause & Böhme, 2007: Necas’ Flap-necked Chameleon
Ch. senegalensis Daudin, 1802: Senegal Chameleon
Ch. zeylanicus Laurenti, 1768: Indian Chameleon
Genus: Furcifer Fitzinger, 1843
F. angeli (Brygoo & Domergue, 1968): Angel’s Chameleon
F.antimena (Grandidier, 1872): Paddle-nosed Chameleon
F.balteatus (Duméril & Bibron, 1851): Tusked Chameleon
F.belalandaensis (Brygoo & Domergue, 1970): Belalanda Chameleon
F.bifidus (Brongniart, 1800): Fork-nosed Chameleon
F.campani (Grandidier, 1872): Jeweled Chameleon
F.cephalolepis (Günther, 1880): Comoro Island Dwarf Panther Chameleon
F.labordi (Grandidier, 1872): Labord’s Chameleon
F.lateralis (Gray, 1831): Eastern Carpet Chameleon
F.major (Brygoo, 1971): Southern Carpet Chameleon
F.minor (Günther, 1879): Lesser Chameleon
F.monoceras (Boettger, 1913): Long-nosed Rhinoceros Chameleon
F. nicosiai Jesu, Mattioli & Schimmenti, 1999: Nicosia’s Chameleon
F.oustaleti (Mocquard, 1894): Oustalet’s Chameleon
F.pardalis (Cuvier, 1829): Panther Chameleon
F.petteri (Brygoo & Domergue, 1966): Petter’s Chameleon
F.polleni (Peters, 1874): Pollen’s Chameleon
F.rhinoceratus (Gray, 1843): Rhinoceros Chameleon
F.timoni Glaw, Köhler & Vences, 2009: Timon’s Chameleon
F.tuzetae (Brygoo, Bourgat & Domergue, 1972): Ambiky Chameleon
F.verrucosus verrucosus (Cuvier, 1829): Madagascar Giant Spiny Chameleon
F.verrucosus semicristatus (Boettger, 1894): Short-crested Madagascar Giant Spiny Chameleon
F.viridis Florio, Ingram, Rakotondravony, Louis & Raxworthy, 2012: Western Carpet Chameleon
F. voeltzkowi (Boettgeri, 1893): Voeltzkow’s Chameleon
F. willsii (Günther, 1890): Wills’ Chameleon
Genus: Kinyongia Tilbury, Tolley & Branch, 2006
K. adolfifriderici (Sternfeld, 1912): Ituri Chameleon
K.asheorum Necas, Sindaco, Koreny, Kopecná, Malonza & Modry, 2009: Mount Nyiro Bearded Chameleon
K.boehmei (Lutzmann & Necas, 2002): Taita Two-horned Chameleon
K.carpenteri (Parker, 1929): Rwenzori Helmeted Chameleon
K.excubitor (Barbour, 1911): Mt. Kenya Sentinel Chameleon
K.fischeri (Reichenow, 1887): Nguru Two-horned Chameleon
K.gyrolepis Greenbaum, Tolley, Joma & Kusamba, 2012: Lendu Chameleon
K.itombwensis Hughes, Kusamba, Behangana & Greenbaum, 2017: Itombwe Plateau Chameleon
K.magomberae Menegon, Tolley, Jones, Rovero, Marshall & Tilbury, 2009: Magombera One-horned Chameleon
K.matschiei (Werner, 1896): Giant East Usambara Two-horned Chameleon
K.msuyae Menegon, Loader, Davenport, Howell, Tilbury, Machaga & Tolley, 2015: Southern Highlands One-horned Chameleon
K.multituberculata (Nieden, 1913): West Usambara Two-horned Chameleon
K.mulyai Tilbury & Tolley, 2015: Mt. Nzawa Chameleon
K.oxyrhina (Klaver & Böhme, 1988): Eastern Arc One-horned Chameleon
K.rugegensis Hughes, Kusamba, Behangana & Greenbaum, 2017: Rugege Highlands Chameleon
K.tavetana (Steindachner, 1891): Kilimanjaro Two-horned Chameleon
K.tenuis (Matschie, 1892): Usambara Soft-horned Chameleon
K.tolleyae Hughes, Kusamba, Behangana & Greenbaum, 2017: Kigezi Highlands Chameleon
K.uluguruensis (Loveridge, 1957): Uluguru Two-horned Chameleon
K.uthmoelleri uthmoelleri (Müller, 1938): Hanang Uthmöller’s Chameleon
K.uthmoelleri artytor Lutzmann, Stipala, Lademann, Krause, Wilms & Schmitz, 2010: South Pare Uthmöller’s Chameleon
K.vanheygeni Necas, 2009: Poroto Single-horned Chameleon
K.vosseleri (Nieden, 1913): Vosseler’s East Usambara Two-horned Chameleon
K. xenorhina (Boulenger, 1901): Rwenzori Plate-horned Chameleon
Genus: Nadzikambia Tilbury, Tolley & Branch, 2006
N. baylissi Branch & Tolley, 2010: Mount Mabu Chameleon
N. mlanjensis (Broadley, 1965): Mount Mulanje Chameleon
Genus: Rhampholeon Günther, 1874
Subgenus: Bicuspis Loveridge, 1956
Rh. (Bi.) gorongosae Broadley, 1971: Mount Gorongosa Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Bi.) marshalli Boulenger, 1906: Marshall’s Pygmy Chameleon
Subgenus: Rhampholeon Günther, 1874
Rh. (Rh.) spectrum (Buchholz, 1874): Western Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rh.) spinosus (Matschie, 1892): Usambara Rosette-nosed Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rh.) temporalis (Matschie, 1892): East Usambara Pitted Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rh.) viridis Mariaux & Tilbury, 2006: Pare Green Pygmy Chameleon
Subgenus: Rhinodigitum Matthee, Tulbury & Townsend, 2004
Rh. (Rd.) acuminatus Mariaux & Tilbury, 2006: Nguru Spiny Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) beraduccii Mariaux & Tilbury, 2006: Mahenge Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) boulengeri Steindachner, 1911: Boulenger’s Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) bruessoworum Branch, Bayliss & Tolley, 2014: Inago Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) chapmanorum Tilbury, 1992: Chapman’s Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) hattinghi Tilbury & Tolley, 2015: Mt. Nzawa Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) maspictus Branch, Bayliss & Tolley, 2014: Mabu Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) moyeri Menegon, Salvidio & Tilbury, 2002: Udzungwa Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) nchisiensis (Loveridge, 1953): Nchisi Pitless Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) nebulauctor Branch, Bayliss & Tolley, 2014: Chiperone Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) platyceps Günther, 1893: Mulanje Flat-headed Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) tilburyi Branch, Bayliss & Tolley, 2014: Namuli Pygmy Chameleon
Rh. (Rd.) uluguruensis Tilbury & Emmrich, 1996: Uluguru Pygmy Chameleon
Genus: Rieppeleon Matthee, Tilbury & Townsend, 2004
R.brachyurus (Günther, 1893): Zomba Beardless Pygmy Chameleon
R.brevicaudatus (Matschie, 1892): Bearded Pygmy Chameleon
R.kerstenii kerstenii (Peters, 1868): Pygmy Grass Chameleon
R. kerstenii robecchii (Boulenger, 1892): Robecch’s Pygmy Grass Chameleon
Genus: Trioceros Swainson, 1839
T.affinis (Rüppel, 1845): Beardless Ethiopian Mountain Chameleon
T.balebicornutus (Tilbury, 1998): Bale Mountain Two-horned Chameleon
T.bitaeniatus (Fischer, 1884): Two-striped Montane Dwarf Chameleon
T.camerunensis (Müller, 1909): Cameroon Chameleon
T.chapini (de Witte, 1964): Chapin’s Chameleon
T.conirostratus (Tilbury, 1998): Sudanese Cone-horned Chameleon
T.cristatus (Stutchbury, 1837): Crested Chameleon
T.deremensis (Matschie, 1892): Usambara Giant Three-horned Chameleon
T.ellioti (Günther, 1895): Elliot’s Grooved-throated Side-striped Chameleon
T.feae (Boulenger, 1906): Bioko Hornless Chameleon
T.fuelleborni (Tornier, 1900): Poroto Three-horned Chameleon
T.goetzei goetzei (Tornier, 1899): Goetze’s Whistling Chameleon
T.goetzei nyikae (Loveridge, 1953): Nyika Whistling Chameleon
T.hanangensis Krause & Böhme, 2010: Mount Hanang Montane Dwarf Chameleon
T.harennae harennae (Largen, 1995): Harenna Hornless Chameleon
T. harennae fitchi (Necas, 2004): Fitch’s Hornless Chameleon
T.hoehnelii (Steindachner, 1891): Kenyan High-casqued Chameleon
T.incornutus (Loveridge, 1932): Ukinga Hornless Chameleon
T.ituriensis (Schmidt, 1919): Ituri Forest Chameleon
T.jacksonii jacksonii (Boulenger, 1896): Jackson’s Three-horned Chameleon
T.jacksonii merumontanus (Rand, 1958): Mount Meru Three-horned Chameleon
T.jacksonii xantholophus (Eason, Ferguson & Hebrard, 1988): Mt. Kenya Three-horned Chameleon
T.johnstoni (Boulenger, 1901): Johnston’s Three-horned Chameleon
T.kinangopensis Stipala, Lutzmann, Malonza, Wilkinson, Godley, Nyamache & Evans, 2012: Kinangop Peak Montane Dwarf Chameleon
T.kinetensis (Schmidt, 1943): Mount Kineti Montane Dwarf Chameleon
T.laterispinis (Loveridge, 1932): Spiny-flanked Chameleon
T.marsabitensis (Tilbury, 1991): Marsabit One-horned Chameleon
T.melleri (Gray, 1865): Meller’s Giant One-horned Chameleon
T.montium (Buchholz, 1874): Cameroon Two-horned Mountain Chameleon
T.narraioca (Necas, Modry & Slapeta, 2003): Mount Kulal Helmeted Chameleon
T.ntunte (Necas, Modry & Slapeta, 2005): Nyiru Montane Dwarf Chameleon
T.nyirit Stipala, Lutzmánn, Malonza, Borghesio, Wilkinson, Godley & Evans, 2011: Cherangani Helmeted Chameleon
T.oweni (Gray, 1831): Owen’s Three-horned Chameleon
T.perreti (Klaver & Böhme, 1992): Southern Peacock Chameleon
T.pfefferi (Tornier, 1900): Pfeffer’s Two-horned Chameleon
T.quadricornis quadricornis (Tornier, 1899): Southern Four-horned Chameleon
T.quadricornis eisentrauti (Mertens, 1968): Rumpi Hills Chameleon
T.quadricornis gracilior (Böhme & Klaver, 1981): Northern Four-horned Chameleon
T.rudis (Boulenger, 1906): Rwenzori Bearded Montane Dwarf Chameleon
T.schoutedeni (Laurent, 1952): Schouteden’s Montane Dwarf Chameleon
T.schubotzi (Sternfeld, 1912): Mount Kenya Montane Dwarf Chameleon
T.serratus (Mertens, 1922): Central Peacock Chameleon
T.sternfeldi (Rand, 1963): Tanzanian Montane Dwarf Chameleon
T.tempeli (Tornier, 1899): Tubercle-nosed Chameleon
T.werneri (Tornier, 1899): Werner’s Three-horned Chameleon
T. wiedersheimi (Nieden, 1910): Northern Peacock Chameleon
Species Profiles:
Copyright © 1998-2018 Christopher V. Anderson. All Rights Reserved.
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For permission, please contact Christopher V. Anderson at cvanders@mail.usf.edu