Revisiting the Synonyms of Trioceros ituriensis

The Congolese Ituri chameleon, Trioceros ituriensis (Schmidt, 1919), has long been entangled in taxonomic uncertainty. A recent review by Wolfgang Böhme re‑examines its synonymies and raises questions about possible overlooked species.

Original Description

• Karl Patterson Schmidt described the species as Chamaeleon ituriensis in 1919, with Medje, Ituri Forest (DR Congo) as the type locality.

• Schmidt noted its similarity to Chamaeleon johnstoni affinis, which he listed as a synonym. Importantly, this taxon must not be confused with Trioceros affinis from Ethiopia, described in 1845.

Clarified Synonymy

• Over the 20th century, C. johnstoni affinis was shuffled between subspecies and synonym status.

• Böhme concludes that Trioceros johnstoni affinis is indeed a synonym of T. ituriensis.

• Diagnostic differences between T. johnstoni and T. ituriensis include:

  • Larger body size in T. ituriensis

  • Reversed sexual dimorphism (females larger than males)

  • White ventral line

  • Rows of enlarged lateral scales

  • Conical scales on the throat sides

  • Absence of rostral and preocular horns in males

Questionable Taxa

• Chamaeleo laevigularis (South Africa, 1926): later treated as a synonym of T. johnstoni, then T. ituriensis (Tilbury, 2010). Böhme questions its validity due to throat scale differences, suggesting either a mis‑recorded locality or a distinct species now lost or extinct.

• Trioceros tremperi (Nečas, 1994): described from Kenya, but never rediscovered at the type locality. Tilbury (2010) and Spawls (2018) synonymized it with T. ituriensis. Böhme raises the possibility of incorrect locality data or another lost species.

Conclusion

The synonymy of Trioceros ituriensis remains complex. While T. johnstoni affinis is securely synonymized, the status of C. laevigularis and T. tremperi is unresolved, with extinction or mis‑locality as possible explanations.

Reference: Böhme, W. (2024). Documenting synonymies in Trioceros ituriensis (Schmidt, 1919) with remarks on sexual dimorphism in chameleons (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie 130(2): 521–564. DOI: 10.35929/RSZ.0099