Scientific name:
Rhampholeon Spinosus
English name:
Usambara Spiny Pygmy Chameleon
Japanese name:
ロゼットノーズドカメレオン
Illustration
Characteristic
Characteristic
This chameleon is a pygmy chameleon that inhabits East Usambara.
Although it is small for a pygmy chameleon, it has a slender body.
The nose is growing like a rosette and there are thorns-like spines in the body.
It is a pygmy chameleon, but it is known to be more tree-like than a general pygmy chameleon.
How to identify between similar species
Rhampholeon Acuminatus has a similar rosette-nose, but Spinosus has a narrower face.
in terms of the shape of the crest on the back, Acuminatus has a crest like an equilateral triangles, but Spinosus has a crest like a slightly elongated isosceles triangle.
Habitat
It lives in both East and West Usambara Mountains.
There is an observation record on iNaturalist, but it is not clear if there is a correct place.
It can be seen in the area above 700m above sea level.
Where to find
Because it cannot adapt to clear land, it only lives in forests.
Also, unlike other pygmy chameleons, they prefer trees, so it seems that they are often located higher than the pygmy chameleon.