By sequencing old museum specimens, they discovered that one chameleon \u2014 C. nasutum \u2014 actually belongs within the C. gallus species complex, even though it doesn\u2019t have the long nose-like structure usually seen in the group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The populations that were once labeled C. nasutum are now described as a new species, Calumma hofreiteri, Hofreiter\u2019s chameleon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The researchers also described a new northern species, Calumma pinocchio, which is genetically quite different and has a long but smoother-edged nose appendage.<\/p>\n
Pinocchio chameleons boast long, slender nose appendages similar to their namesake \u2014 the famed fairy tale character created by Italian author Carlo Collodi in 1883.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe elongated and pointed rostral appendage of this chameleon is reminiscent of Pinocchio\u2019s long nose, which grows when he lies, although in C. pinocchio the appendage may well be an honest signal of communication reflecting male fitness,\u201d Glaw and his peers observed cheekily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When it comes to telling the three distinct species apart, it\u2019s all in the nose.\u00a0<\/p>\n Chameleons of the general Calumma gallus have serrated rostral appendages branching off from their nose, almost like small thorns, whereas the Pinocchio chameleon\u2019s appendage is long and smooth, and the Hofreiter\u2019s chameleon\u2019s appendage has a rounded end.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe genetic analyses are conclusive: the nose chameleons have virtually fooled previous research,\u201d Glaw, a curator at the Bavarian State Collections of Natural History, said in a statement<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur study also revealed that the nasal appendages can change quickly in terms of length, shape, and color. Their evolution is possibly driven by the respective preferences of females in mate selection.\u201d<\/p>\n When it comes to protecting these newly named chameleons, Glaw and his team said they simply needed more data.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cProposing a Red List status for the species discussed herein is hindered by several remaining uncertainties about their distribution and status,\u201d Glaw wrote, in reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature\u2019s Red List of Threatened Species<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n To their best estimation, the Hofreiter\u2019s chameleon may have a fairly wide range, but most of the five known locations are small forest patches that are threatened by deforestation. Based on its limited distribution and ongoing habitat loss, it may qualify as Vulnerable.\u00a0<\/p>\n As for the Pinocchio chameleon, they surmised that they prefer forest edges \u2014 but still need real forest to survive.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIn Northern Central East of Madagascar,\u201d the researchers wrote, \u201crainforests at lower elevations are highly fragmented and the remaining fragments are under constant pressure from slash-and-burn agriculture.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Therefore, they explained, the Pinocchio chameleon may require Endangered status.\u00a0<\/p>\n Overall, the researchers found that the nose structures in these chameleons evolved quickly and that further fieldwork is required to reveal just how many species are out there \u2014 and how they\u2019re all related.<\/p>\n They also said it requires a visit to the past, in learning from ancient chameleon samples.\u00a0<\/p>\n In fact, a chameleon collected way back in 1836 was pivotal to Glaw\u2019s research.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe study shows the great potential of the new museomics methods to correctly identify historically collected specimens, especially in species complexes,\u201d said study co-author Miguel Vences from the Technical University of Braunschweig.<\/p>\n \u200d<\/p>\n You may also like: These new species of ‘stubble mushrooms’ sport ‘beard-like’ whiskers. Scientists say they’re key to conservation efforts<\/a><\/p>\n \u200d<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6920db0240a6e9153dae3782_pinocchio-chameleon.jpg\")
The Pinocchio chameleon. Image via Frank Glaw et al (ZSM\/SNSB) (CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6920db2de8721478729319c5_pinocchio-chameleon-new-species.jpg\")
The Pinocchio chameleon. Image via Frank Glaw et al (ZSM\/SNSB) (CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6920debb47c3c5f991729d66_new-species-chameleon-gallus.jpg\")
Calumma gallus. Image via Frank Glaw et al<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6920db41c32ccd7a1960b366_Hofreiter-chameleon.jpg\")
The Hofreiter\u2019s chameleon. Image via Frank Glaw et al (ZSM\/SNSB) (CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6920db65e872147872932115_Hofreiter-chameleon-new-species.jpg\")
The Hofreiter\u2019s chameleon. Image via Frank Glaw et al (ZSM\/SNSB) (CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>)<\/p>\n