rhamphole TEMPORALIS — Wikipedia
A wikipedia article, free l’encyclopéi.
Rhampholeon temporalis is a kind of Saurian from the Chamaeleonidae family [ first ] .
This species is endemic to Tanzania [ first ] . It meets up to 1,400 m altitude in the Usambara mountains.
He lives only at altitude, mainly around 800 meters above sea level [ first ] , [ 2 ] . It is only found in the low layers of rain forests in this area, the climate of which is characterized by fairly soft and stable temperatures (22 to 25 °C The day, about 18 °C at night), overall constant all year round. Hygrometry is high, varying between 60 and 80% during the day, a little more at night.
This dwarf chameleon is small, reaching a maximum of 6 to 8 centimeters. It is brown-brown in color sometimes pulling on gray, it generally has one to three darker stripes, in the shape of a comma, on the sides, as well as sometimes large dark points. The tail is short, slightly prehensile, the helmet (upper part of the skull) is marked, in the shape of a diamond with a line joining the two eyes.
They have a laterally flattened body, which, with their fine legs and their colors make them look like dead leaves, in concordance with the soil of the forests where they live.
The females are generally a little larger than males, and they have a more stocky tail especially at the base, housing of the hemipedis.
These are fairly placid, daytime reptiles, which roam the soil and the low branches of the forests in search of small insects. They drink the water placed on the leaves on the ground or in the herbs.
Unlike “classic” chameleons (that is to say not the dwarf chameleons) they almost never be exposed to the sun, it rarely reaches the low layers of the forests.
When they are disturbed they can “make it dead”, dropping on the ground and remaining motionless. They can also emit a very rapid vibration with their bodies. The purpose of this behavior is not very well understood, but some assume that it would make it possible to keep small insects and other arthropods that could be interested in them [ 2 ] .
It is an oviparous species. The male courts the female by following it and by performing regular nods. A non -receptive female reacts with jerky movements, which ends the parade. In the event of a non -reaction, the male continues his approach. Mating takes place a few hours later, and lasts less than an hour.
Mating can take place throughout the year, and after a gestation of about 40 days the females lay by two to three eggs (sometimes only one, sometimes four) buried a few centimeters deep, more rarely simply deposited under leaves. Females can lay up to six times a year. Eggs incubate for about 4 months (variable depending on the temperature) [ 2 ] .
The small ones measure approximately 2.5 centimeters at birth. The little ones are mature at the end of their first year [ 2 ] .
Like all dwarf chameleons-and unlike other chameleons-this species suddenly moves, the whole skin pending almost so-simultaneously all over the body. The moult therefore ends fairly quickly, generally in less than an hour.
The name of this species, temporalis , comes from Latin time , the temple, in reference to its flat temples [ 3 ] .
- Matschie, 1892: About a small collection of mammals and reptiles, which Mr. L. Conradt from Usambara (German East Africa) brought home. Meeting reports of the Society of Natural Research Friends in Berlin, vol. 1892, p. 101-110 ( Full Text ).
Recent Comments