Fischer's chameleon

Description

Fischer's chameleon (Kinyongia fischeri) is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Tanzania. Kinyongia (derived from the group's name in Kiswahili language) is a chameleon genus recently established for several plesiomorphic species found in forest and woodland in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and far eastern DR Congo. All except K. adolfifriderici and K. tavetana are restricted to highlands, and many have very small geographic ranges. In most, at least the males have horns or knobs on their noses. They had been placed into the genus Bradypodion for some time. It has recently been pointed out that the ending to the specific epithet in several of the below listed species should be modified to match the feminine genus name. The specific name, fischeri, is in honor of German herpetologist Johann Gustav Fischer. K. fischeri is restricted to the Nguru and Nguu Mountains of Tanzania. Chameleons found in other parts of the Eastern Arc Mountains as well as Kenya are now classified as separate species. A number of other species (K. matschiei, K. multituberculata, K. tavetana, K. uluguruensis, and K. vosseleri) have been mistakenly called by this species' name or classified as subspecies. In 2008, it was shown that they actually are their own, distinct species. The true Fischer's chameleon is rare with a more restricted distribution than previously believed. Although formerly considered common in captivity, virtually all "Fischer's chameleons" in the pet trade are now known to actually be the other species. Only three true Fischer's chameleon are known to have entered captivity.