Filarial nematodes are vector‑borne parasitic worms transmitted by biting insects such as mosquitoes. In reptiles, including chameleons, they can inhabit subcutaneous tissues or body cavities, sometimes visible as worm-like swellings under the skin. Their impact ranges from mild irritation to severe pathology depending on parasite load, host...
Frank Shirima is a passionate naturalist, ornithologist, and herpetologist with over eight years of hands‑on experience in the field. He holds a Certificate in Wildlife from Arusha Wisdom Training College, grounding his expertise in both academic knowledge and practical conservation work.
Calumma guillaumeti, described by Brygoo, Blanc, and Domergue in 1974, is a high‑altitude chameleon endemic to northeastern Madagascar, particularly the montane rainforests of Marojejy and surrounding massifs. Occupying elevations between 1,250–1,675 m, it thrives in humid, closed‑canopy forest where microclimatic stability supports its cryptic...
The Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii) is more than a reptile—it is a living monument of Madagascar, the largest chameleon species known to science, and yet still a mystery. Imported by thousands since the mid‑20th century, with quotas of hundreds per year, it remains poorly studied in its natural world. Most wild populations have vanished from...
Panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) are celebrated for the dazzling diversity of adult male coloration during the breeding season, with each by them inhabited region of Madagascar producing its own signature palette. Among these, Ambilobe stands out as one of the most spectacular locale population, where males are even classified into distinct...
The Birth of Binomial Nomenclature
From Arusha, Tanzania, naturalist Newton Lectomerian leads Newtonature, his own guiding agency devoted to the wonders of flora and fauna. Whether your interest lies in chameleons, birds, wild animals, frogs, or insects, Newton welcomes you—and encourages you to invite your friends—to explore the living treasures of our planet.
Calumma emelinae was described in 2020 by Prötzel, Scherz, Ratsoavina, Vences & Glaw during their revision of the Calumma nasutum group. It is a small chameleon restricted to humid forest zones of eastern Madagascar. Field observations indicate that the species is largely confined to bamboo thickets, where it demonstrates unusual...
In the late 19th century, Count Sámuel Teleki de Szék (1845–1916) and Ludwig von Höhnel (1857–1942) led their celebrated East African expedition (1886–1889). They crossed the interior of East Africa, reaching Lake Rudolf (now Turkana) and Lake Stefanie (Chew Bahir), mapping unknown lands and recording new species. Their route brought them to the...
All photos courtesy Jamie Shattenberg & Kayden Withey
Nosy Boraha (Île Sainte-Marie), once a lush emerald jewel off Madagascar's coast, carried centuries of stories—pirates anchoring in hidden bays, rainforests alive with lemurs, orchids, and the slow, deliberate movements of Parsons' chameleons (Calumma parsonii parsonii). For generations, the island was cloaked in tropical forest, a living cathedral...
Sometimes people juggle with terms, and that juggling leads straight into misinformation. In biology, a single letter can substantially change meaning—turning a precise scientific concept into a misleading idea.
Eastern Madagascar, three weeks after a cyclone. The forest is raw, stripped, yet alive. A five‑year‑old girl sits on a stump, watching. From a car nearby, an elderly Caucasian man steps out, camera ready. His eyes fix on a creature clinging low in the brush: a Panther Chameleon, its body blazing with green and red.
Described in 1997 by Wolfgang Böhme, Calumma glawi carries the name of Frank Glaw, the German herpetologist who collected the type specimens in Ranomafana rainforest. Glaw's legacy is scholarly: he is co‑author of the definitive field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of Madagascar, a monumental reference that anchors modern herpetology. His...
Among the many criteria used to assess rarity in chameleons—distribution, population size, habitat specificity, and visibility—none surpass the haunting singularity of Furcifer monoceras. Described from a single crumpled specimen collected in 1960 by Georges Blanc, its terra typica was the forest near Mandoto, Madagascar.
Some people believe that shedding in chameleons is a fixed, monthly process.
Chameleons are believed to struggle in the wild, and many keepers see their role as rescuers, giving chameleons a "much better life" than in nature. They often spoil their animals to the point of obesity, feeding them large volumes of highly nutritious food, believing this is kindness.
On this day, we celebrate the dazzling diversity of life. Chameleons, with their shifting colors and quiet resilience, remind us of nature's brilliance and adaptability. Protecting them means protecting the balance of our ecosystems and the wonder of wildlife everywhere.
Let's honor their place in the wild—and commit to keeping their habitats safe...
Keepers often believe that the larger the enclosure, the stronger the basking bulb must be. This assumption seems logical but is misleading, because cage size alone does not dictate basking conditions.
Some breeders and self‑appointed "specialists" have repeatedly raised alarms about the presence of maltodextrin in reptile multivitamin mixtures. They portray it as toxic, unsafe, or a deceptive filler, and have attacked reputable producers such as Zoo Med, Repashy, and Exo Terra for including it in their formulations.
Desmodium, an invasive plant introduced from South America, is spreading rapidly across Madagascar and poses a serious threat to small chameleon species. Its stems are covered with sticky, hooked hairs that easily trap delicate reptiles, especially hatchlings. Many young chameleons die after becoming ensnared, unable to free themselves.
Blood-sucking mites in chameleons represent a fascinating but often overlooked dimension of reptile parasitology. These mites, belonging primarily to families such as Dermanyssidae and Macronyssidae, feed on lymph and blood, producing localized irritation and mild necrosis but not transmitting pathogens. Their activity is restricted to hematophagy,...
Female Furcifer oustaleti exhibit striking variability in coloration that reflects both their physiological state and reproductive condition. In normal circumstances, females are typically a uniform green, sometimes accented with darker mottled patterns. This cryptic coloration helps them blend into foliage and avoid detection. However,...
people believe that female chameleons must mate after egg deposition to Produce a next fertile clutch of eggs.
The study by Negro, Radimbiniaina, and Negro provides valuable baseline data on soil temperatures in the rainforests of Andasibe, Madagascar. With 418 measurements across three protected areas, the authors document seasonal and daily fluctuations at a depth of 20 cm, highlighting differences between rainy and dry seasons. This dataset is a welcome...
There are four chameleon taxa living on the Arabian Peninsula:
On St. Valentine's Day, all who cherish chameleons are, by definition, already in love—for to love a chameleon is to embrace wonder itself. This day belongs to you, the guardians of shifting colors and gentle movements.
Propithecus coquereli, the Coquerel's sifaka, is a striking lemur native to northwestern Madagascar. With its creamy white coat and chestnut patches, it moves through the forest canopy with an elegance that has earned it comparisons to chameleons.
Many assume that Yemen chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) come from harsh deserts of southern Arabia. This myth has shaped poor husbandry practices and distorted ecological understanding. But it is false. Yemen chameleons do not live in deserts.
Many keepers and even some books claim that the high casque—the raised part of the chameleon's head behind the eyes—is used to store water. Some go further, imagining bizarre mechanisms: water sucked through the eyes, pumped into the crest, or dew collected and funneled into the mouth. These stories are not just wrong—they are anatomical nonsense.
