Kinyongia matschiei facts for kids
Kinyongia matschiei, also known as the giant monkey-tailed east Usambara two-horned chameleon, is a fascinating type of chameleon. These amazing reptiles are found only in the East Usambara Mountains in Tanzania, Africa. They have some really cool features, like horns on their noses!
Quick facts for kids Kinyongia matschiei |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 |
|
| Male above, female below | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Chamaeleon matschiei Werner, 1895 |
What Does the Giant Two-Horned Chameleon Look Like?
This chameleon is the largest of its kind in the Kinyongia group. Males can grow to be about 41 centimeters (16 inches) long from nose to tail. Females are a bit smaller, reaching about 36 centimeters (14 inches).
One of the most striking features of the adult male Kinyongia matschiei is its pair of long "horns" on its nose. These horns can point straight forward or spread out. Female chameleons also have horns, but they are much smaller.
Where Does This Chameleon Live?
The Kinyongia matschiei chameleon lives only in a special part of Tanzania called the East Usambara Mountains. They prefer to live in isolated forest areas, usually at high altitudes up to 1,500 meters (about 4,900 feet).
Their total living area is quite small, covering about 800 square kilometers (300 square miles). However, the actual space they occupy is even smaller, less than 300 square kilometers (115 square miles).
Why Are Their Numbers Declining?
Sadly, the number of these chameleons is going down. They need specific forest habitats to survive. While they can sometimes be found in areas where the forest is a bit damaged, they cannot live in places like large farms or plantations. This means that as their forest homes disappear, so do their numbers.
Other chameleons, like K. vosseleri, share the same home in the East Usambaras. Another related species, K. multituberculata, lives in the nearby West Usambara Mountains.
