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Ruwenzori 3-horned Chameleon

Trioceros johnstoni

Photo by triggsturner
Published on Project Noah
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-1.04653, 29.6848

Field Notes

Description:

Also known as the Johnston's Chameleon. A big chameleon up to 30cm length. Males have the characteristic three horns the female does not. Colouration is highly variable but usually mainly green with splotches of bright yellow.

Habitat:

Here found on the edge of the Biwindi Impenetrable National Park in western Uganda in mixed forest. At the limit of its altitude range approx. 2400m.

Notes:

Endemic to the Albertine Rift area in Africa this species has quite a limited range. However it seems to be doing ok in the areas I saw it due mostly to the protected areas where logging has been stopped to help preserve the Mountain Gorilla habitat.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (22)
triggsturner
Thank you guys for your comments and support of this spotting. I really appreciate it.
remkinloch
Congratulations on your SOTW - very well deserved. He is a stunning creature, almost fantastical!!
SukanyaDatta
Are you sure that is not a unicorn? Actually a tricorn; totally new species. Congratulations.😊😊
Tukup
Congratulations Triggs on the SOTW. Great photos of a little seen chameleon. They are so cool. I hope you had time to just watch it for a bit. Thanks for sharing.
triggsturner
Thank you PN Rangers for the honour of SOTW. And thank you also Antonio and Neil for your comments and support. Neil, i saw 2 species of chameleons in Uganda but they were my first ever in the wild so i was super excited at seeing them.
Neil Ross
Congratulations on your much-deserved SOTW, Rob. I didn't realise chameleons could be that big. I've been to east Africa twice but wasn't fortunate enough to see any chameleons. Great photos and info.
AntónioGinjaGinja
Congrats Robert,beautiful series,chameleons are just amazing in every aspects,congrats on the well deserved SOTW and thanks for sharing
triggsturner
Thank you Greg for you comment and support of this spotting. Much appreciated.
Michael
Congratulations, triggsturner, this beautiful spotting has been voted Spotting of the Week by the Rangers team! Thank you for sharing such a special reptile with the Project Noah community :) https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603/10162337791720603/?type=3&theater https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/1172900425277874176
triggsturner
Thank you Ava. This is indeed an important lesson wether it be rainforest, marine reserve or just ones back yard. I appreciate your point.
Ava T-B
I like that your notes show that protecting one species (gorillas in this case) protects others; an important conservation lesson.
triggsturner
Thank you for your comment Dan. Its amazing but even with these colours, these guys are so hard to spot. I consider myself pretty lucky to have seen and photographed them.
AshleyT
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
Dan Doucette
Wow great spotting! I love chameleons. This is one of my favourites. I've seen many chameleons in Africa and Madagascar but I've yet to see this species! I was even in Bwindi Impenetrable NP too!
triggsturner
Thank you Rach. I appreciate ypur comment and support for this spotting.
remkinloch
Another amazing spotting, thanks for sharing!
Brian38
Great spotting and information Robert!

Spotted for Missions

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Reptiles of the World
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Mission WILD
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East African Biodiversity
Mission
2019 Best Wildlife Photo - Species Interactions Special!

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Photographed
PublishedSeptember 2, 2019

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