Biology:Kinyongia asheorum

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of lizard

Kinyongia asheorum
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Kinyongia
Species:
K. asheorum
Binomial name
Kinyongia asheorum
Nečas, Sindaco, Kořený, Kopečná, Malonza & Modrý, 2009

Kinyongia asheorum, also known commonly as the Mount Nyiro bearded chameleon, is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Kenya. Only four specimens are known.[1]

Etymology

The specific name, asheorum (Latin, genitive, plural), is in honor of British-Kenyan herpetologist James Ashe (1925–2004), and his wife Sanda (1944–2018).[2]

Description

K. asheorum is medium-sized, reaching a maximum size of about 22 cm (8.7 in) (of which about 60% is tail). It has a distinct head casque, a pointed snout, and two horns on the tip of the snout. It is uniformly dark green with several white spots and brownish ridges.[1]

Distribution and habitat

K. asheorum is only known to occur on Mount Nyiro in Kenya, where it was collected in a single patch of forest at an altitude of 2,000–2,450 m (6,560–8,040 ft). It inhabits large trees with extensive canopy cover.[1]

Conservation

While the species K. asheorum appears not to be under direct threat, it has a very restricted distribution and may be impacted by logging, forest fires, and grazing outside the forest. It has been classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nečas P, Sindaco R, Kořený L, Kopečná J, Malonza PK, Modrý D (2009). "Kinyongia asheorum sp. n., a new montane chameleon from the Nyiro Range, northern Kenya (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae)". Zootaxa 2028 (1): 41–50. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2028.1.4. 
  2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN:978-1-4214-0135-5. (Kinyongia asheorum, p. 12).
  3. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named iucn status 20 November 2021

Further reading

  • Spawls S, Howell K, Hinkel H, Menegon M (2018). Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London: Bloomsbury Natural History. 624 pp. ISBN:978-147-2935618. (Kinyongia asheorum, p. 265).

External links


Wikidata ☰ Q3197234 entry