Kinyongia sp. S. Pare

During a survey in S. Pare Mts., in the Chome Forest Reserve, John Sikawa encountered an injured small chameleon in the Erica zone.

It shows clear attributes of the genus Kinyongia, however it is not clearly identifiable as the local K. artytor due to following facts:

• no chameleon species has been reported from the highest altitudes of S Pare Mts., from the Erica Bushland above the forest line

• K. artytor does not possess a group of enlarged tubercles posterior to the proper laeral crest
• K. artytor possesses plate-like flat scales covering the top of the head, while the scalation of the shown specien is more of granular character
• K. artytor has scales on the flanks ordered in groups forming rectangular fields, while the specimen shows consistent subhomogeneous scalation

• the head of the specimen is extremely short.

In what an extent these characteristics are to be diagnostic for a new species or showing juvenile characters or are artefacts of the injury, only future investigations will show... The animal is probably a juvenile, so, some of the characteristics may still be underdeveloped.

Foto courtesy Jose Sikawa: Erica Bushland; Chome Forest Reserve 14th May 2025

Frank Shirima provided a fotodocumentation of another two specimens from the hugh altitude of S Pare Mts, Chome forest. It is obvious that they are nor identical with K. artytor from the lower elevations:

• the size is much smaller than K.a.

• the rostral area is flat instad of forming an elevated ridge

• there are conical isolated tubercles on the dorsal crest just behind the head (absent in K.a.)

• the coloration is a more or less uniform light brown in comparison to the vivid green in females and colorful patters in males of K.a.

The identity of this form needs further verification, best with DNA analysis.

Foto courtesy Frank Shirima: Erica Bushland; Chome Forest Reserve