Reptile · GBIF taxon 8029174
Johnston's Chameleon
Trioceros johnstoniAlso known as Johnston's Three-Horned Chameleon, Ruwenzori Three-Horned Chameleon
Thriving in the cool, mist-shrouded montane forests of central Africa's Albertine Rift, adult male Johnston's chameleons display three prominent, annulated horns projecting forward from their snout and brow. Females lack these ornate horns, relying instead on mottled green and yellow camouflage as they move deliberately through dense mountain vines and bamboo shoots. These slow-moving arboreal hunters use fused feet to grip slim twigs while firing lightning-fast ballistic tongues at unsuspecting insects.
HighlandHornedReptile
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flies
- Moths
- Grasshoppers
Predators
- Birds of prey
- Arboreal snakes
- Small carnivores
ThreatsDeforestation, forest fragment isolation, and agricultural expansion
HabitatsMontane cloud forests, alpine thickets, and bamboo zones above 1,800 meters
Life span3 to 7 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyChamaeleonidae
- SpeciesTrioceros johnstoni
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a bright emerald-to-olive lizard with prominent male horns clinging to mossy branches above 1,800 meters.
- Support conservation
- Maintain distance without touching foliage where they perch to avoid disturbing territorial behavior or causing stress.
Responsible observation
- Scan lower canopy vines: Look along humid trail margins at higher elevations, where individuals perch on thin branches.
- Observe quietly: Avoid touching or handling, as wild reptiles experience high stress when restrained.
- Watch the eyes: Spot them by looking for independent turret-like eye movements amidst dense green foliage.
Co-occurring Kin Benjamin Klingebiel / CC BY-SA 2.0 de · cc-by-sa
Forest Neighbor 
Close Relative Patrick Gijsbers / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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