Coarse Chameleon
Coarse ChameleonCoarse ChameleonCoarse ChameleonCoarse Chameleon

Coarse Chameleon

Trioceros rudis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
70–80% · Very likely
overall probability at Volcanoes National Park
59 Verified records at Volcanoes National Park
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The coarse chameleon (Trioceros rudis), also known as the rudis chameleon, Ruwenzori side-striped chameleon or the Rwenzori bearded chameleon, is a chameleon from western Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo. Contrary to common belief, this species does not inhabit Mount Meru, Tanzania. Tanzania chameleons called T. rudis are in fact T. sternfeldi. This chameleon is often found in open habitats, inhabiting low bushes and shrubs (often described as 'patchy open country") in the transitional zones between grasslands, reedbeds and montane heath. T. rudis is small (10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in)) and lacks horns or occipital lobes. It has a long tail and a small crest. Wikipedia →

70–80% of wildlife watchers report a Coarse Chameleon sighting in Volcanoes National Park, based on 59 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Volcanoes National Park

Johnston's Chameleon
LC

Johnston's Chameleon

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trioceros johnstoni

Insufficient data
Montane side-striped chameleon
LC

Montane side-striped chameleon

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trioceros ellioti

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

80–90
Jan
80–90
Feb
80–90
Mar
50–60
Apr
60–70
May
80–90
Jun
80–90
Jul
70–80
Aug
80–90
Sep
50–60
Oct
80–90
Nov
70–80
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
70–80%
2 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
20–30%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Coarse Chameleon in Volcanoes National Park?

About 78% of wildlife watchers report a Coarse Chameleon sighting in Volcanoes National Park, based on 59 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Coarse Chameleon in Volcanoes National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Coarse Chameleon in Volcanoes National Park in our monthly data.

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