Calumma sp. Nosy Komba

There appears to be a population of Calumma cf. radamanus on Nosy Komba, clearly distinct from the syntopic Calumma boettgeri. I first documented a female of this taxon in 2019 by photographic evidence. Unfortunately, the record was a female, so that the appearance of the male still remains a mystery.

Since then, local guides have reported the occurrence of a small chameleon that they traditionally identify as Calumma cf. nasutum, based on its diminutive size, absence of occipital lobes, and the presence of a laterally flattened rostral appendage. However, these accounts remain anecdotal, as no photographic or physical evidence has yet been provided to substantiate the reports. 

Prötzel et al. (2020) provided a detailed account of the morphological variation of C. radamanus and documented its distribution in northeastern Madagascar, ranging from Tampolo to Ambatondradama at elevations between 7 and 500 m. On the basis of these findings, and in the absence of alternative described taxa, current consensus among herpetologists is that all northern Madagascar records of small Calumma species with a soft rostral appendage and lacking occipital flaps should be provisionally referred to C. radamanus.