Chamaeleo Laurenti, 1768

Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, Zoosystema 37 (2), pp. 381-402 : 395-396

Genus Chamaeleo Laurenti, 1768

Chamaeleo gracilis Hallowell, 1842 ( Fig. 15 )

Chamaeleo gracilis Hallowell, 1844: 111 .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 41 specimens: Togo. Agoté, coll. JFT 1712- 1713 ; Alédjo, RMCA 73.013 .R.0032 ; Bismarkburg (Adélé) ZMB 16083, 64156 , 16082 , 64153 , 16026 , 10789 , 16084 , 64157 , 16085 , 16027 , 64154 , 10788 , 64146-64152 , 11243 . Gandu (currently Gando ) ZMB 160229 a, 160229b ; Kpalimé, RMCA73.054 .R.0001-0002 ; Niamtougou, RMCA 73.011 .R.0086-0087 and 85.003.R.0148, Zebbe (currently Zebevi in Aneho ) ZMB 16028 .

Ghana. Accra ZMB 5852, 6684a, 6684b, 6523a, 6523b; Kete Kratchi ZMB 13806, 16030, 16295, 26692, 64155, Yendi ZMB 16294.

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This is a savannah-dwelling species which also occurs in the forest-savannah ecotone (e.g., Branch & Rödel 2003; Böhme et al. 2011) and in lowland forests ( Luiselli 2006). It was recorded for Togo by Tornier (1901) from Sebbe (closed to Aneho), Gando, Misa-Höhe, Bismarkburg (currently Adélé), and Kete-Kratchi and Yendi (nowadays in Ghana). Its presence in Togo was also confirmed by Klaver & Böhme (1997) and Ullenbruch et al. (2007). It is heavily harvested for the international pet trade: according to the CITES division of the DFC, 6397 live specimens were exported from Togo between 2001 and 2005. The species is also widely available in the fetish markets (Segniagbeto et al. 2013).

Chamaeleo necasi

Ullenbruch, Krause & Böhme, 2007

Chamaeleo necasi Ullenbruch, Krause & Böhme, 2007: 6 .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 5 specimens: Togo. Badou , RMCA 73.009 .R.0142-0143 ; Yo (Agome Yo), RMCA R.27085 (Paratype) ; Missa-Hohe ZMB 44008 ; Bismarkburg ZMB 16086 .

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — Chamaeleo necasi was recorded in Togo under the name of Chamaeleo quilensis Bocage, 1886 by De Witte (1965). This species is part of a species complex which are either recognized as distinct species or as “forms” of a single species Chamaeleo dilepis . The distribution of Chamaeleo dileptis “ quilensis form” extends from Cameroon to South Africa ( Tilbury 2010). The presence of this form in Togo indicated by Chirio & LeBreton (2007) as Chamaeleo quilensis seems to be dubious and Ullenbruch et al. (2007) already mentioned that more research is needed to understand the distribution of this species. The type and paratypes of Chamaeleo necasi came from the Togolese localities of Kpalimé, Yoh or Yo (Agome Yo) and Misa-Höhe ( Ullenbruch et al. 2007). In Togo, this species is restricted to the forest zone. It is probable that many specimens of this species are confused with C. gracilis in the international pet trade. All the reptile farmers interviewed by us apparently did not distinguish between the two species.

Chamaeleo senegalensis Daudin, 1802 ( Fig. 16 )

Chamaeleo senegalensis Daudin, 1802: 203 .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 15 specimens: Togo. Alédjo , RMCA 73.011 .R.0082-0085 ; Borgou, RMCA 73.011 .R.0015 ; Huiléhoé, coll. JFT 2330-2333; Niamtougou, RMCA 73.011 .R.0067-0070, 73.011.R.0079 ; Togoville, RMCA 73.011 .R.0071 .

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — Chamaeleo senegalensis is a typical savannah inhabitant, that can be found also at the border of the rainforest and inside open forests (for instance in the Niger Delta of southern Nigeria; L. Luiselli unpublished data). This species is particularly common in Togo in the ecological zones I and II, but is also present in all other ecological zones. In Togo it is generally associated with bushlands and thickets, often close to wet areas, in the savannah region. This species was recorded in Togo by Tornier (1901) for the localities of Bismarkburg (currently Adélé), Mango, Sokodé, and Kete-Kratchi and Yendi (now in Ghana). It is heavily exploited for the international pet trade, e.g., about 3000 specimens are exported from Togo each year.

Figures

FIG. 15. — Chamaeleo gracilis Hallowell, 1842.

FIG. 16. — Chamaeleo senegalensis Daudin, 1802.