Trioceros incornutus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	SQUAMATA	CHAMAELEONIDAE

Scientific Name:

Trioceros incornutus

Species Authority:

(Loveridge, 1932)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Poroto Mountain Chameleon, Ukinga Hornless Chameleon

Synonym/s:

Chamaeleo incornutus (Loveridge, 1932)

Chamaeleon incornutus Loveridge, 1932

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Vulnerable B1ab(i,iii) ver 3.1
Year Published:	2011
Assessor/s:	Spawls, S. & Carpenter, A.I.
Reviewer/s:	Böhm, M., Collen, B. & Ram, M.
Contributor/s:	De Silva, R., Milligan, H.T., Wearn, O.R., Wren, S., Zamin, T., Sears, J., Wilson, P., Lewis, S., Lintott, P. & Powney, G.
Justification: Trioceros incornutus has been assessed as Vulnerable due to it having an estimated extent of occurrence of approximately 7,700 km², with a severely fragmented habitat and the continuing threats of habitat loss and harvesting. Targeted research is needed, in particular on the taxonomic status of the two populations, in order to define clear conservation actions for this species.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is found in southeastern Tanzania, in the Ukinga and Poroto ranges and on Mt. Rungwe. It may also be present in the adjacent Ubena Mountains. It was originally thought to be a Tanzanian endemic, but is now also known from the Nyika Plateau in Malawi (Spawls et al. 2002). Its extent of occurrence, excluding the discontinuity between the Tanzanian and Malawian populations, has been estimated as 7,678 km².
Countries:	Native: Malawi; Tanzania, United Republic of
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There is no population information available for this species.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is known to live in woodland habitat and plantation forests, on shrubs, small trees and in thicket. This species gives birth to live young (Spawls et al 2002).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species occurs in a region that is threatened by high levels of habitat loss due to agricultural land change and fuel-wood collection. This species is also used in the pet trade, although at relatively low numbers (UNEP-WCMC 2010).

Major Threat(s):

This species occurs in a region that is threatened by high levels of habitat loss due to agricultural land change and fuel-wood collection. This species is also used in the pet trade, although at relatively low numbers (UNEP-WCMC 2010).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on CITES Appendix II and can be found within protected areas. There is an urgent need to research the taxonomic status of the two populations in Malawi and Tanzania, as an elevation to species status could change the conservation status of this species. Similarly, more surveys are needed to increase our knowlegde of the distribution and define the true extent of occurrence of this species. Additional research should also focus on the impact of threats on population density.

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on CITES Appendix II and can be found within protected areas. There is an urgent need to research the taxonomic status of the two populations in Malawi and Tanzania, as an elevation to species status could change the conservation status of this species. Similarly, more surveys are needed to increase our knowlegde of the distribution and define the true extent of occurrence of this species. Additional research should also focus on the impact of threats on population density.

Citation:	Spawls, S. & Carpenter, A.I. 2011. Trioceros incornutus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 June 2013.
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