‘Dead leaf’ on mountain shrub was alive, camouflaged and pregnant. It’s a new species
Hiking in the mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, scientists spotted a “dead leaf” sitting on a shrub. The “leaf” was actually a pregnant camouflaged creature — and a new species.
Researchers visited several sites in central Africa as part of a larger wildlife survey, according to a study published May 30 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. The surveys focused on a group of pygmy chameleons, also known as the Rhampholeon group.
These small lizards usually live on the forest floor and “exhibit traits closely mimicking a dead leaf,” the study said. Because of their “cryptic” appearance, these chameleon species are often misidentified. A recent DNA analysis found evidence that six unique species were being lumped together.
Intrigued, a team of researchers decided to search for these new species.
Through surveys and in-depth analysis of dozens of chameleons, they eventually discovered a new species: Rhampholeon plumptrei, or Plumptre’s pygmy chameleon.
Plumptre’s pygmy chameleon can reach about 3 inches in length, the study said. Its “leaf-like” body is covered in bumps and has several “diagonal” lines “resembling veins of a leaf.”
Photos show the varying colors of Plumptre’s pygmy chameleons. One has a slate gray coloring. Another has an orange-brown hue.
The new species was often found perched on branches, shrubs or plants in mountainous forests between elevations of about 3,900 and 7,500 feet, researchers said. Five lizards were found pregnant.
Researchers said they named the new species after Andrew Plumptre “for his efforts in promoting the conservation of Albertine Rift biodiversity and whose leadership with the Wildlife Conservation Society has inspired scientists.”
Plumptre’s pygmy chameleons have a “very large geographic distribution” from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo across Uganda and into western Kenya, the study said. These three neighboring countries are in central and eastern Africa.
The new species was identified by its DNA and other subtle physical features, the study said.
The research team included Daniel Hughes, Mathias Behangana, Wilber Lukwago, Michele Menegon, J. Maximilian Dehling, Philipp Wagner, Colin Tilbury, Trisan South, Chifundera Kusamba and Eli Greenbaum.
Researchers also discovered four more new species: the Albertine Rift pygmy chameleon, Bombay’s pygmy chameleon, goddess pygmy chameleon and Mountains of the Moon pygmy chameleon.
This story was originally published June 5, 2024 at 2:28 PM with the headline "‘Dead leaf’ on mountain shrub was alive, camouflaged and pregnant. It’s a new species."
