Identification Challenge

Chris Anderson

Dr. House of Chameleons
I always enjoy trying to identify animal species but have always felt that when someone is actually trying to identify the animal is not the time for people to just guess if they don't have a very good idea as it often will dictate subsequent care. So, I decided to post this photo as a challenge for those of you who would like to try your hand at identifying it. Please be specific (scientific name as specific as possible) when making your guess. I'll post a couple more photos later if needed.

4617600512_80236475d2_o.jpg


Have fun,

Chris
 
I want to say a Kinyongia of some sort, wish I could be more specific but I don't get into those much. Female!? :p
 
Female Nadzikambia mlanjensis? Color pattern and crest looked different, but body shape and skin type looked identical to me.
 
I'm pretty sure it's a female Kinyongia because I can see the white lines at her belly. She's actually really colorful so my guess would be a female Kinyongia tenue from the Usambra Mountains of Tanzania.
 
There were some very good guesses but Dan was the first to get it right. This is a true female Kinyongia fischeri. It was definitely a very challenging ID since as of 2006/2007, only 3 females had ever been found and I've only heard of one other female being found since other than this one. You can read more about the Kinyongia fischeri and its related species in this thread: https://www.chameleonforums.com/fischers-chameleon-kinyongia-fischeri-22395/ As you can see from the photos of the males, this species has a series of broken longitudinal stripes on the flanks which can be faintly seen in the first pic I posted. Here are a couple more photos of her where they are more evident:

4618017789_f99890216b_o.jpg

4618631522_0070c26961_o.jpg


Hope you all enjoy seeing her,

Chris
 
There were some very good guesses but Dan was the first to get it right. This is a true female Kinyongia fischeri. It was definitely a very challenging ID since as of 2006/2007, only 3 females had ever been found and I've only heard of one other female being found since other than this one. You can read more about the Kinyongia fischeri and its related species in this thread: https://www.chameleonforums.com/fischers-chameleon-kinyongia-fischeri-22395/ As you can see from the photos of the males, this species has a series of broken longitudinal stripes on the flanks which can be faintly seen in the first pic I posted. Here are a couple more photos of her where they are more evident:

4618017789_f99890216b_o.jpg

4618631522_0070c26961_o.jpg


Hope you all enjoy seeing her,

Chris

Chris,
Is this one of your specimens?

LPR08
 
What a beautiful specimen too, Chris! Thanks for the call and anticipation of seeing the photos:D That tail is something else!! Would you say she is an adult? If so hopefully she will produce a fertile clutch for you! Good luck and definitely keep us posted on her:)
 
Oh well, I did get as far as some type of fischeri but which one I didn't have the nerve to guess. I don't trust my ID skills very far these days. That long long tail was part of my focus. Thanks for the quiz Chris!
 
Back
Top Bottom