Calumma


Calumma is a genus of chameleons endemic and restricted to Madagascar. The species formerly named Calumma tigris was transferred to the genus Archaius by Townsend et al. When they found that it is more closely related to Rieppeleon than to Calumma. The oldest fossil of the genus is known from the Early Miocene of Kenya, showing that the genus originated in Africa.

Species groups

Four species groups are recognised within the genus Calumma, some of which may be only phenetic, while others are phylogenetically supported:

''[Calumma furcifer]'' species group

Contents: Calumma furcifer, C. gastrotaenia, C. marojezense, C. guillaumeti, C. andringitraense, C. glawi, C. vencesi
Species characterised by typically green body colouration, sleek body form, and generally no occipital lobes and no rostral appendage.

''[Calumma cucullatum]'' species group

Contents: Calumma cucullatum, C. crypticum, C. amber, C. tsaratananense, C. hafahafa, C. hilleniusi, C. peltierorum, C. malthe, C. brevicorne, C. jejy, C. tsycorne
Species characterised by distinct occipital lobes and generally a single bony rostral appendage that is larger in males than females.

''[Calumma nasutum]'' species group

Contents: Calumma nasutum, C. fallax, C. gallus, C. guibei, C. boettgeri, C. linotum, C. gehringi, C. uetzi, C. lefona, C. juliae, C. vatosoa, C. vohibola, C. peyrierasi, C. roaloko
Species characterised by a soft dermal rostral appendage. The following members possess occipital lobes: C. guibei, C. boettgeri, C. linotum, C. gehringi, C. uetzi, C. lefona, C. roaloko, and C. juliae. These taxa are collectively referred to as the C. guibei species complex. Occipital lobes are absent from all other species. The assignment of C. peyrierasi to this group remains a subject of uncertainty.

''[Calumma parsonii]'' species group

Contents: Calumma globifer, C. ambreense, C. oshaughnessyi, C. parsonii, C. capuroni
Species characterised by large body size, males with paired rostral appendages, and some species with small occipital lobes.

Species

The following 41 species are recognized as being valid as of October 2018:
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Calumma.