Kinyongia asheorum

One of the rarest chameleons at all, living on one hill in N Kenya only: Mt. Nyiro... Until now, only 4 specimens are known, we have described it several years ago...

On the same mountain, we found a chameleon before and described it as Trioceros ntunte and then, several years after, we went to the same hill and sat around fire with locals...

And they said, you know, Peter, there is one more chameleon in this mountain, it is a spectacular one...

I did not believe, as we really spent several expeditions and some 60 man-nights searching the mountain...

And they continued...

You know, it has horns like a rhino...

But not two only: 4, sometimes 6...

And, it has a sharp blade on the top of the head! It can cut your hand if you touch it...

Well

Well, I did not believe and laughed openly...

And they continued: and, it has a beard like an old man...

This was too much even for me...

I thought I was exposed to something what we call in My home country "a hunter's Latin" if you understand what I mean...

Well, and then, I found out I am a foul...

Because indeed, there is a 6-horned chameleon with blade on the top of the head and a beard like old man living on Mt. Nyiro...

The only species of Kinyongia, which is horned and only one having cone scales on the throat...

The species was named after the couple Ashe, John has just passed away when we discovered it and it was named in honor of him, his contributions to Kenyan herpetology and his wife for life-long support of him...

Herpetology is not a dry science, if you want, it is full of adventure, fun, heroic stories, respect, love... You name it...Enter your text here...