CHAMELEONOLOGY: 

Candling chameleon eggs is a practice used by some breeders to assess the development of the embryos inside the eggs. While there are only questionable benefits to candling, there are several reasons why it is strongly adviceble not to do it:

The depicted animals are WNC (Wild, Not Caught), photographed IN 2013 on Nosy Faly by Katrin Pawlik, Berlin, FRG

Filariasis is caused by various filarial worms (such as Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Loa loa in humans; Foleyella atum and Acanthocheilonema spirocauda in chameleons), which are transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

Chameleons possess two copulatory organs on the left and right sides, called hemipenes. These organs are situated in pockets at the base of the tail and can retract into them, controlled by a specific muscle that relaxes when the organ is extended.

Chameleons possess two copulatory organs on the left and right sides, called hemipenes. These organs are situated in pockets at the base of the tail and can retract into them, controlled by a specific muscle that relaxes when the organ is extended.

Chameleons are extraordinary living beings that exhibit vibrant colors and unique behaviors, yet they are not exempt from the environmental devastation wrought by humans. The pervasive threat of microplastics is a growing crisis that affects all organisms and ecosystems, including these remarkable reptiles. As microplastics increasingly invade the...

Microplastics: The Silent Killer Choking Our Oceans and Devastating Life on Earth

The carpet chameleon, also known as the jewel chameleon or white-lined chameleon, is a species endemic to eastern central Madagascar. It is a relatively small chameleon, with males predominantly green and whitish or yellowish markings, while females display bright colors and varying patterns, including black, white, blue, yellow, and orange.

In 2012, A. M. Florio, C. M. Ingram, H. A. Rakotondravony, E. E. Louis, and C. J. Raxworthy published an article titled "Detecting Cryptic Speciation in the Widespread and Morphologically Conservative Carpet Chameleon (Furcifer lateralis) of Madagascar" in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Volume 25, Issue 7, pages 1399-1414. They confirmed that...

Once upon a time, it was actually about 2½ centuries ago, a very wise and educated nobleman came up with a brilliant idea of organizing all of our perceptions of the surrounding world, starting from rocks and minerals to plants and animals. This was Carolus Linnaeus, who wrote a book that became one of the most important works of mankind, called "...

Anolis proboscis: The Unique Horned Lizard of Ecuador

The coastal form, Chamaeleo roperi

The liver is a vital organ found in all vertebrates, including chameleons. Known scientifically as the "hepar" from the Latin term, the liver derives its name from the ancient Greek word "hēpar - ἡπαρ", which is transliterated as "hepar" into Latin. In chameleons, as in other reptiles, the liver plays a central role in metabolism, detoxification,...

In reptiles, the heart possesses a degree of autonomous regulation, allowing it to continue beating even after clinical death. This phenomenon is attributed to the intrinsic cardiac pacemaker within the heart. Specialized cardiac muscle cells can generate impulses independently of the nervous system, similar to the sinoatrial (SA) node found in...

Furcifer lateralis, commonly known as the carpet chameleon, is a striking species native to the highlands of Madagascar. This species is part of a recently revised species complex that now includes Furcifer viridis and Furcifer major. F. lateralis is primarily found in high-altitude grasslands, where it exhibits unique adaptations, and it...

The Endings "-i" and "-ii" in Species Epithets

With its curled tail reminiscent of a chameleon, Cyrtodactylus thalang might as well deserve the nickname

Furcifer major is a captivating chameleon species that has undergone taxonomic clarification over the years. Long considered a synonym or subspecies of Furcifer lateralis, it was elevated to specific rank by Necas in 1996, a classification recently reaffirmed by molecular studies. This species is a member of the F. lateralis group, alongside F....

Chameleons are fascinating reptiles known for their vibrant colors and unique adaptations, which extend to their dental structure. One of the remarkable features of chameleon teeth is the presence of acrodont dentition. In this type of dentition, the teeth are attached directly to the crest of the jawbones, rather than being set in sockets like in...

Let us wish a Happy Christmas to the Yemen Chameleons! It has been around 40 years since the first offspring of Yemen Chameleons were born in captivity, and since then, this species has established itself in human care to the extent that they are now a regular pet worldwide. They have unfortunately been introduced by humans to other areas where...

A wonderful resource...

...with kind permission of the author, Peter Sahlins, and with thanks for making it possible to Jan Hartley...

A new issue #18 of the superb Journal of Responsible Herpetoculture has been published: An article on Socotra is inside this issue, authored by Petr Necas...

Vitamin A is a vital fat-soluble nutrient essential for the overall health and well-being of chameleons. It exists in two primary forms:

Kinyongia vosseleri is one of the rarest reported Two-Blade-Horn-Chameleon species in the African continent. Described as first of all by Nieden, 1913, named after Named after Professor Julius Vosseler (1861-1933), a German zoologist. He travelled in German East Africa (Tanzania) in the years 1903-1909 and from 1910 he served as Director of...

The elaborate mating rituals of O'Shaughnessy's chameleons feature an impressive display of vibrant colors, particularly during courtship. Males are capable of exhibiting rare colorations, such as the striking red hue that may appear on their heads during this period. This transformation is short-lived but remarkable; typically, their heads are a...

Mating rituals in chameleons are intricate and captivating to observe. These behaviors are often initiated by environmental factors, such as the arrival of the rainy season or other climatic conditions. During this time, both males and females exhibit increased interest in one another. In some species, males have been observed engaging in a...