IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group

A study finds that chameleons have longer & more coiled optic nerves than other squamates & known tetrapods, providing slack & reduced strain during extensive eye rotation characteristic of chameleon eyes, & providing an excellent historical review of our knowledge.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Finally, a new species, C. pinocchio, with relatively smooth-edged elongated rostral appendages is described.
www.salamandra-journal.com/index.php/co...

The authors define Calumma gallus as a species with distinctly elongated and serrated rostral appendages.
www.salamandra-journal.com/index.php/co...

A study finds that Calumma nasutum is actually a C. gallus complex species lacking the group's elongated rostral appendage & clarify its taxonomy, describing a new species (C. hofreiteri) for populations previously considered under the name C. nasutum.
www.salamandra-journal.com/index.php/co...

A profile on C. calyptratus highlights aspects of their biology w/reference to its potentially invasive status in Florida, where the species has been reported in 26 counties, providing insights on management methods & potential ecological impacts.
bioone.org/journals/sou...

A study examining restabilization performance in 3 arboreal lizards w/different body & tail configurations following unexpected arboreal perturbations finds that chameleons have larger CoM divergence angles than 2 species with sprawling body configurations.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

122 cases of limb loss in lizards revealed that these these rare survivors of traumatic injuries can run just as fast, maintain healthy body weight, reproduce successfully & live surprisingly long lives.
Article: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Summary: theconversation.com/3-legged-liz...

A new geographic distribution in the latest issue of African Herp News details new records of Rieppeleon brachyurus in Mozambique, including the first record south of the Zambezi River.
African Herp News is available to HAA members or publicly after ~1 yr: africanherpetology.org/african-herp...

A new note details egg-laying in Chamaeleo dilepis in Kenya, documenting the process from excavation through departure, noting female color changes & local superstitions about finding a digging chameleon.
African Herp News is available after ~1 year: africanherpetology.org/african-herp...

A reevaluation of chameleon foraging mode using movement- & attack-based indices. Chameleons spent most of the day in stationary positions & fed more when stationary than when moving, suggesting they should be considered ambush foragers rather than "cruise foragers".
academic.oup.com/cz/advance-a...

While similar mechanistically, ballistic tongues of chameleons & salamanders were each assembled via a different sequence of innovations, highlighting how biomechanical modularity, rather than exceptional materials, underlies this vertebrate ballistic innovation.

Chameleons & salamanders evolved a sliding-based linear actuator to launch the tongue via muscular squeezing of a tapered skeletal rod, contrasting with tendon-driven pulling mechanisms common in most musculoskeletal systems, allowing acceleration along a straight path.
www.cell.com/current-biol...

A study on the embryonic development of the gonads in chameleons finds that the gonadal primordia appear quickly in development compared to somatic tissue development & the process of gonadal sex differentiation is consistent with other vertebrates
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

A new article documents a new locality for the Endangered Calumma vencesi in the Sorata Forest of NE Madagascar. Their presence supports the need to conserve this valuable mountain forest, which is also home to the likely Critically Endangered Brookesia nana.
www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/v...

A new article provides reference sonographic data on the urogenital tracts of veiled and panther chameleons to compare their kidneys, testes, and ovaries to other lizards, although data on the ovaries of female chameleons could not be collected.
Article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Distance from highways & lower proportions of ground covered by shrubs are associated with higher favorability for the presence of C. chamaeleon. In Spain this species is largely restricted to highly anthropized coastal areas with high road density... conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Chameleons & agamid lizards diverge in tooth proteins involved in strengthening enamel structure. Chameleons are more divergent in enamel matrix proteins which may be associated with a more complete transition to monophyodont dentition than agamids.
Article: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

A new publication reports on a novel host record of a tick species that commonly infests tortoises and some lizards feeding on a Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon recticrista) in Turkey with attachment to the margin of the eye turret.
Article: www.researchgate.net/profile/Goek...

Half of respondents reported seeing flashlights shining at night & some reported trespassing & confrontational interactions with individuals repeatedly entering their yards to collect chameleons, highlighting the importance of recognizing social impacts of species introductions.

A study on societal impacts of introduced populations of F. pardalis in Florida found that residents knew of but expressed low concern about the chameleons' presence, expressing more concern for their safety given the activities of private collectors.
digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcont...

A new study finds that C. dilepis change their brightness to better match black backgrounds & change color to match some hues, especially yellow, although not matching background patterns.
Article: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...

Some hopeful news on the Critically Endangered Furcifer belalandaensis, which was recently discovered in some less disturbed habitat than it has previously been known from, possibly providing an opportunity to better protect the species!
Article: greenauve.org/new-hope-for...

A clutch of Bradypodion cf. melanocephalum “Hilton” born in the lab today! Immediately getting some metabolic rate data from them to follow through ontogeny! Have also been getting metabolic rate data from the mother for the last 3 months and will continue as she recovers from birth as well!

Study on convergent evolution & ecological speciation in Bradypodion finds differences in functional traits related to grip can be explained by the perch diameters used, whereas ornamentation differs in different habitats but is convergent in similar habitats.
Link: zse.pensoft.net/article/1519...

Two female Trioceros jacksonii, which appear to be T. j. xantholophus with rostral horns, from 2,130m elevation on the western/southwestern slopes of Mount Kenya.

Trioceros hoehnelii from 2,130m elevation on the western/southwestern slopes of Mount Kenya!

Some Trioceros hoehnelii from the Naro Moru route on Mount Kenya!

High-casqued Chameleons (Trioceros hoehnelii)!

Aberdares Montane Dwarf Chameleon (Trioceros kinangopensis)!

Happy 2nd annual International Chameleon Day! May 9th is International Chameleon Day, which was launched in 2024 to highlight the remarkable diversity of chameleon species and shed light on the challenges they face in the wild!
#internationalchameleonday #chameleondaymay9 #chameleonconservation