The Small Knights of the Madagascar Rainforest

The Fantasy Story of Two Noble Gentlemen Knights Who Do Not Fight — Even Possessing Fearsome Weapons

Today, let us look into the magic of Madagascar and take enlarging lenses to see what noble knights dwell in the undergrowth of its rainforests.

First, let me introduce the first knight — a tiny chameleon of the species Calumma gallus.

The males wear a long rostral protrusion that resembles an ancient medieval weapon: the cudgel, once used to kill enemies.

The females have a similar nasal protrusion, but it's much smaller and colored red.

When males meet, they impose on each other — but they do not use their weapons.

They are harmless and soft. They just look dangerous.

They are gentlemen. They do not fight. They debate peacefully.

But their weapons look truly impressive.

Let me also introduce the second knight: Calumma pinocchio, closely related and very similar.

Males possess a long nasal protrusion too, and females have a small red one as well.

Sometimes, males get nervous and impose on females or other males by opening their mouths and displaying their weapons —

but they are noble knights too.

They do not fight either.

These little chameleons are extreme tricksters:

Small males even resemble females by mimicking the red markings on the horn, so that the stronger big males mistake them for females and do not threaten them.

And they don't.

They calmly and patiently relax.

Their weapon resembles a sword…

So far the tale.

If you ask what these soft yet impressive weapons are for, let me explain:

They serve two essential functions.

First, they help females identify the correct male of their species — because several other chameleon species of similar size live in the same area, but have completely different rostral appendages.

Second, the rostral appendages may play a role in camouflage:

The nose of Calumma gallus might resemble flower parts,

and the sword-like appendage of Calumma pinocchio is trickily similar to the terminal parts of the ferns on which they dwell.

Isn't it spectacular that the same feature is used both to be seen and not to be seen at the same time?