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...

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...

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

Further, we show that supercontracting muscle in chameleons may share common contractile and structural properties due to a common origin from occipital somites. royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... 6/6

We propose this broadened length-tension relationship is achieved through sarcomere length non-uniformity with muscle fibers across the muscle belly at different starting lengths during contraction, resulting in some fibers shortening onto their force plateau while others shorten off it. 5/6

One does so with perforated z-discs, representing the 2nd known example of supercontracting muscle in vertebrates. The other, on the other hand, has typical, uninterrupted z-discs & should therefore be limited in the range of lengths over which it is able to change & continue to exert force. 4/6

Chameleons rely on greater hyoid motion than other lizards & associated muscles may benefit from supercontractile properties. We show that 2 hyoid retractor muscles (m. sternohyoideus superficialis et profundus) show similarly broad length-tension relationships to their supercontracting muscle. 3/6

Chameleons project their tongues ≤2.5x their body length, with their tongue retractor muscle being the only known vertebrate example of supercontracting muscle, with perforated z-discs allowing the muscle to shorten & continue exerting force beyond lengths typical skeletal muscle is able to. 2/6

Thread: A new lab publication explores functional, anatomical and developmental aspects of extreme length change among chameleon hyoid musculature. royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... 1/6

The latest issue of Herpetological Review (55(2)) includes articles outlining new county records for Chamaeleo calyptratus in Florida and a Natural History Note of a Furcifer verrucosus found in the gut of a Langaha madagascariensis museum specimen. ssarherps.org/herpetologic...

Examination of chameleon feeding muscles finds the 2nd supercontracting muscle among vertebrates (1st is chameleon tongue retractor muscle) allowing force exertion over a broader range of muscle lengths than typical striated muscle is capable of. royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...

A new article finds that Chamaeleo species are among the most commonly traded animals in Ghana for traditional medicine. Article link: ethnobiomed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

In a recent paper, complete genome sequences of 101 reptiles were published, including 6 Ethiopian chameleon species! Article: biodiversitygenomes.scholasticahq.com/article/1295...

Initial descriptions of the microbiomes of 3 Bradypodion suggest similar microbiomes to other squamates & chelonians investigated to date. Differences between urban & rural populations are likely due to the magnitude of difference between habitats occupied by each species. peerj.com/articles/188...