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Type: Article
Published: 2009-04-22
Page range: 57–68
Abstract views: 33
PDF downloaded: 1

A re-appraisal of the systematics of the African genus Chamaeleo (Reptilia: Chamaeleonidae)

P.O.Box 347, Nottingham Road, KZN 3280 South Africa & Evolutionary Genomics Group, Dept of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Applied Biodiversity Research, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735, Cape Town, South Africa
Reptilia Chamaeleo Trioceros Taxonomic review Taxonomy

Abstract

The genus Chamaeleo, currently subdivided into two sub-genera, Chamaeleo (Chamaeleo) and Chamaeleo (Trioceros) (Klaver & Böhme 1986), is reviewed from both a morphological and genetic basis and it is concluded that the two subgenera are sufficiently distinct as to warrant their formal elevation to seperate and distinct genera. Evaluation of the soft anatomy and several other characters provide sufficient basis for making this distinction. The proposed change is supported by the demonstration of monophyletic groupings (based on two mitochondrial and one nuclear gene) consistent with distinct genera.

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