{"id":15767,"date":"2026-07-11T20:02:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T18:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.madcham.de\/?p=15767"},"modified":"2026-07-13T17:52:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:52:34","slug":"calumma-krystalae","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.madcham.de\/en\/calumma-krystalae\/","title":{"rendered":"Calumma krystalae"},"content":{"rendered":"
\r\n\t\tCITES quotas<\/strong>
\nNo legal export possible\t<\/div>\r\n\t\n

 <\/p>\n

Fist description:\"IUCN<\/h4>\n

Vences, Rothe, Glaw, Scherz, Gehring, Hawlitschek, Kuhn, Multzsch, Petzold, Preick, Rakotoarimalala, Raselimanana, Ratsoavina, Ruane, Vieites, Hofreiter & Dufresnes, 2026
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Origin of the species name:<\/h4>\n

The German herpetologist Miguel Vences named the chameleon in honour of the South African herpetologist Krystal Tolley. Krystal Tolley is a professor at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa). For many years, she has been researching the systematics<\/a>, taxonomy<\/a> and evolutionary biology of chameleons, snakes and other reptiles in South Africa. She has already been involved in numerous new descriptions of chameleon species. She currently also chairs the IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n

Distribution:<\/h4>\n

Several populations of Calumma krystalae<\/em> are currently known, all of which occur exclusively in dense, largely intact rainforest in northern Madagascar. The northernmost population is found in the Sorata Massif, whilst another is found in the Tsaratanana Massif. Specimens of the species have also been discovered slightly south of the Tsaratanana Massif, in Andrevorevo. A fourth population of Calumma krystalae<\/em> is found in Marojejy National Park in north-eastern Madagascar. We have found these chameleons there ourselves on several occasions between Camp Marojejya and Camp Simpona. Finally, Calumma krystalae<\/em> is found in the rainforests around the lakes of Bemanevika and Ampotsidy, which lies a few kilometres further south-east. What all these forest areas have in common is that they are relatively remote and rarely visited by travellers. Calumma krystalae<\/em> is found only at altitudes of between 1,280 and 1,638 metres. These chameleons are not found in lower-lying rainforest.<\/p>\n

Appearance and size:<\/h4>\n

Calumma krystalae<\/em> is a medium-sized chameleon with a total length of around 20 to 30 cm. Males of Calumma krystalae<\/em> have a bony rostral appendage, whereas females do not. Both sexes have large occipital lobes, which are separated at the back of the head only by a small notch. There are always more than 160 scales on the occipital lobes; in most cases, there are even more than 200. The gular crest is only slightly pronounced, with rather small conical scales. Males have a dorsal crest consisting of conical scales, which is slightly smaller in females.<\/p>\n

In terms of colour, the males of Calumma krystalae<\/em> are light green with yellow or beige markings on their backs. The males\u2019 eyelids and occipital lobes are often a bright light blue when excited. The females have less striking colours. They are usually marbled brown with small green markings. The eyelids and occipital lobes of female Calumma krystalae<\/em> are also frequently green in colour. The following photographs show various juveniles of Calumma krystalae<\/em> from Marojejy, all of which look extremely similar. The bright yellow-green colouration appears to be very typical of juveniles of this species in that area.<\/p>\n