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Kinyongia asheorum

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Kinyongia asheorum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Kinyongia
Species:
K. asheorum
Binomial name
Kinyongia asheorum

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.[2]

Etymology

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The specific name, asheorum (Latin, genitive, plural), is in honor of British-Kenyan herpetologist James Ashe (1925–2004), and his wife Sanda (1944–2018).[3]

Description

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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.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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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.[2]

Conservation

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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.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Tolley, K.; Menegon, M.; Plumptre, A. (2020). "Kinyongia asheorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T172540A176532327. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T172540A176532327.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ 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).

Further reading

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