Check out the new Reptiles Magazine, good article on Mt. Meru Jackson's Chameleons

I agree with you on this, in fact I did have it as "merumontanus" until the editors called me and asked me if I was sure it was not "merumontana." I checked the last pulication with the species represented in it, a respected work by Spawls en al (2002) titled "A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa."

Originally posted by crawling_lion
Hi,

Congratulations on the article, I truly enjoyed it. The only problem I found with the article was the incorrect spelling of the subspecific name ("merumontana" as opposed to "merumontanus"). Since the genus and subgenus are in masculine form [Chamaeleo (Trioceros)], the species and subspecies names MUST be maintained consistent. This is perhaps the number one mistake people make when trying to spell taxonomic names (even book authors have made this mistake!!).

Thus, the correct spelling for the Mt. Meru Jackson's chameleon is:

Genus: Chamaeleo
Subgenus (in parenthesis): Trioceros
Species: jacksonii
Subspecies: merumontanus

*Note that only the genus and subgenus are capitalized.

If you're ever wondering the correct spelling (current) of most species check out the new book by P. Necas titled: CHAMELEONS: Nature's Hidden Jewels (2004).


Regards,


Fabian

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As for you Josh, really, I am tired of you trying to tarnish my name. I was not upset with you on this issue until now, I still had a respected view of you and everything you have done for me in the past. I think that's all gone now. I was just thinking you went crazy.

Well, I'm glad you "caught it." It's unfortunate that the editors at Reptiles Magazine are unable to determine whether "merumontana" is correct or incorrect. The book you describe as a "respected work" is in fact one of my favorites in my collection of literature, but in that book, not only is merumontanus written as "merumontana," but "jacksonii" is written as "jacksoni". But, for the sake of argument, let us pretend that the book writes jacksonii correctly: in that case, according to the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature, the genus, species and subspecies must be gender-consistent. So if the genus is Chamaeleo (masculine), then the species and subspecies must also be masculine (merumontana is feminine).


Regards,


Fabian

Your totally correct on this issue, again thank you for bringing it up. I'm moving up to your area soon to start work at the Fort Worth Zoo, we'll have to meet up some time and I'll show you my collection.

This is definitely a strange coincidence. Will you be working in the herp house? We (at the DWA) work quite closely with them (as well as with the Dallas Zoo) in different areas (not only herps but also birds and mammals). I truly admire their collection of herps...

Anyway, congratulations and perhaps we'll see you soon.


Regards,


Fabian

Yep, I going to be the new guy at the Fort Worth Zoo working with the herps! Not sure on a date yet, still waiting to hear, but I'll be up in that area within the next week. It is a strange coincidence, isn't it? I hear the Fort Worth Zoo will be setting up a small exhibit with some Marine fish as well, hopefully I get to work them them, very into my fish (mostly cichlids). As for the zoo collection of herps, yes, it is very nice collection. I feel honored I get the chance to work with it shortly.

Originally posted by crawling_lion
This is definitely a strange coincidence. Will you be working in the herp house? We (at the DWA) work quite closely with them (as well as with the Dallas Zoo) in different areas (not only herps but also birds and mammals). I truly admire their collection of herps...

Anyway, congratulations and perhaps we'll see you soon.


Regards,


Fabian