Meet the Saudi Spur Chameleon—Camaeleo calcarifer

Saudi Spur Chameleon (Chamaeleo calcarifer) was described by Peters in 1870 as Chamaeleo calcaratus and the type locality was erroneously given as Bembatuka.

After about a century and half of confusion about its status, once considered a valid species, once a subspecies of the Yemen Chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus, and even speculated it being a cross between Chamaeleo arabicus and Chamaeleo calyptratus due to some ovelapping features.

The author announces that it is definitely a separate species.