Rhampholeon is a genus of small chameleons, commonly known as pygmy chameleons or African leaf chameleons, found in East Africa and Central Africa. They are found in forests, woodlands, thickets, and savanna, and most species are restricted to highlands. They are brown, grey, or green, and typically seen at low levels in bushes, or on the ground among grasses or leaf litter.
The spectral pygmy chameleon, also known as western pygmy chameleon or Cameroon stumptail chameleon, is one of the so-called "dwarf" or "leaf" chameleons, from mainland Africa.
Rieppeleon brevicaudatus, commonly known as the bearded leaf chameleon or bearded pygmy chameleon, is a chameleon originating from the eastern Usambara and Uluguru Mountains in northeastern Tanzania and Kenya. It is easily distinguished from others in the Rieppeleon genus by the presence of a "beard" below the mouth, consisting of a few raised scales. At a full grown length of only 3 in (8 cm), it is marked by somewhat drab coloring in comparison to other chameleons, usually assuming a brown or tan coloring. It is quite capable of changing its coloration, though, often taking on a shade to blend into the background and becoming darker when under stress. It is also capable of compressing its body laterally and producing a stripe down its side, mimicking a dead leaf. It often assumes this form when sleeping in the open. It can adopt a variety of colors, including yellow, green, orange, black, and brown. A common misconception is that these chameleons use their color-changing abilities as camouflage, but they actually use their color-changing skin to court and show stress or emotion. Males are distinguished by a longer tail, more prominent dorsal crest, slimmer body type, and persistent patterning. Like others in the family Chamaeleonidae, it is distinguished by independently rotating eye sockets and a tongue longer than its body.
The rosette-nosed chameleon is a small species of chameleon found in virgin forest and woodland of both the eastern and western Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. This endangered species is predominantly ash-grey in colouration, with a distinctive rosette-like nasal appendage.
Kinyongia magomberae, the Magombera chameleon or Magombera single-horned chameleon, is an endangered species of chameleon found only in humid submontane forests in the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania.
Marshall's pygmy chameleon, also called Marshall's leaf chameleon, Marshall's dwarf chameleon, or Marshall's stumptail chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in the forests of Zimbabwe and Mozambique in Africa. It grows from 3.5 to 7.5 cm and feeds on insects. When standing still, it resembles a leaf on a branch.
The spiny-flanked chameleon, also known as the spiny-sided chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to Tanzania. It was first described in 1932 by Arthur Loveridge.
The Eastern Arc forests is a montane tropical moist forest ecoregion of eastern Africa. The ecoregion comprises several separate highland areas above 800 meters in Kenya, and (mostly) Tanzania.
Rieppeleon brachyurus, known commonly as the zomba pygmy chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to eastern and southeastern Africa.
Rieppeleon kerstenii is species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to East Africa.
Rhampholeon bruessoworum, the Mount Inago pygmy chameleon, is a small species of chameleon endemic to Mozambique. It was described in 2014.
Rhampholeon chapmanorum, also known commonly as Chapmans' pygmy chameleon, is a species of terrestrial pygmy chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to forest fragments in the Natundu Hills, Malawi. It was described as a species new to science by Colin R. Tilbury in 1992, from a patch of lowland seasonal rainforest in the Matandwe Forest Reserve.
Rhampholeon acuminatus, the Nguru pygmy chameleon, is a species of chameleons endemic to Tanzania.
Rhampholeon beraduccii, also known commonly as Beraducci's pygmy chameleon or the Mahenge pygmy chameleon, is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Tanzania.
Rhampholeon boulengeri, also known commonly as Boulenger’s pygmy chameleon, is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is native to eastern Africa.
Rhampholeon nchisiensis, the South African stumptail chameleon or Nchisi pygmy chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in Malawi and Tanzania.
Rhampholeon platyceps, the Mount Mulanje pygmy chameleon or Malawi stumptail chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in Malawi and Mozambique.
Rhampholeon temporalis, the Usambara stumptail chameleon or East Usambara pygmy chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in Tanzania.
Rhampholeon uluguruensis, also known commonly as the Uluguru pygmy chameleon, is a small species of chameleonin the family Chamaeleonidae, endemic to Tanzania.
Rhampholeon viridis, the green pygmy chameleon, is a species of chameleons endemic to Tanzania.
