New Chameleon Discovered: Named Tarzan
Posted by: Loren Coleman on September 1st, 2010
The newest chameleon discovered has been named the Tarzan chameleon, Calumma tarzan. It was found in central and eastern Madagascar.
Philip-Sebastian Gehring, the lead author of an article describing the new animal, and other German scientists who discovered the new species of chameleon, hope to draw attention to destruction of essential habitat in that country by naming the species after Tarzan, the fictional jungle superhero.
Gehring said, “The Tarzan chamaeleon is going to use his celebrity name to promote protection for this last patch of forest.”
The new chameleon is discussed in the most recent issue of Salamandra Journal as “a Tarzan yell for for conservation.” The scientists propose that it be used as a mascot species for the creation of new nature reserves in Madagascar.
Male Calumma tarzan with relaxed (top) and stress coloration (bottom).
Female Calumma tarzan with relaxed (top) and stress coloration (two forms-bottom).
Photo credits, Gehring, et al., via Mongabay.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
Very cool stuff Loren, as usual. Thanks especially for the pics of them with/without stress coloration.