Chameleons

GreenCustoms
Knowledge Series No. 16
Introduction to the
identification of chameleons
Based on CITES Identification Manual sheets submitted
by the Scientific Authority of Germany
Developed by the CITES Secretariat
Questions to answer
• What are chameleons?
• Are chameleons popular in trade?
• How can chameleons be identified?
• How variable are they in shape
and color?
• What identification resources are
available?
2
Chameleons
• The family Chamaeleonidae is a distinctive and highly
specialized group of lizards, distinguished by their clamplike feet, separately mobile eyes, and long tongues
• Many have a prehensile tail, and some are able to
change their color
• Some 160 species range from Africa, Madagascar, Spain
and Portugal, across south Asia, to Sri Lanka, occurring
in warm habitats from rain forest to desert conditions
3
Chameleons
• Some (but not all) chameleon species are able to change
their skin colors, which can include pink, blue, red,
orange, green, black, brown, yellow and turquoise
• Chameleons use their color-changing ability to blend in
with their surroundings, to express their physiological
condition and as a social indicator to other chameleons
Chamaeleo wiedersheimi
Chamaeleo johnstoni4
Chameleons
• The Antsingy Leaf Chameleon Brookesia perarmata is
included in Appendix I of CITES
5
Chameleons
• Other species of the genus Brookesia, and all species of
the genera Bradypodion spp., Calumma spp., Chamaeleo
spp. and Furcifer spp. are included in Appendix II
• Chameleons vary greatly in size and body structure, with
maximum total length varying from 3.4 cm to 68.5 cm
• Many have head or facial ornamentation,
and males are typically much more
ornamented than the female chameleons
Furcifer labordi
6
Chameleons in trade
• Chameleons are popular pets and are sought by
collectors; 2007-2008 trade figures suggest the following
species are the most frequently traded
– Bradypodion fischeri and B. tavetanum (from Tanzania)
– Furcifer lateralis, F, pardalis and F. verrucosus (Madagascar)
– Chamaeleo calyptratus, C. chamaeleon (Jordan)
– Chamaeleo bitaeniatus, C. deremensis, C. dilepis, C. fuelleborni,
C. hoehnelli, C. jacksonii, C. melleri, C. rudis, and C. werneri
(from East Africa)
– Chamaeleo gracilis (from East and West Africa)
– Chamaeleo senegalensis (from West Africa)
7
Chameleons in trade
• In addition, the 2009 voluntary export quotas include
significant numbers of Chamaeleo affinis, C. africanus,
C. calcaricarens, C. ellioti and Furcifer oustaleti
• Not all trade is in wild-taken specimens and the 2009
quotas indicate a portion of the trade is in ranched
specimens and first-generation
captive-born specimens
8
Identification of chameleons
• Even for reptile specialists, many chameleon species are
not easy to identify
– There are often striking sexual differences in morphology and
coloration of a species
– External diagnostic characters between species can be nearly
absent
– In some species, there is significant geographical variation in
morphology and coloration
– The ability of individuals to change color rapidly makes it difficult
to use color pattern for identification
– The scientific knowledge on chameleons is still rather poor
9
Identification of chameleons
• To be able to identify chameleons, you have to be aware
of the main distinguishing morphological characteristics
• You cannot depend on color!
Chamaeleo
tempeli
10
Main distinguishing features of
chameleons (1)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Rostral crest
Lateral crest
Temporal crest
Occipital lobes
Gular crest
Ventral crest
Dorsal crest composed
of single scales, cones or tubercles
8. Rows of enlarged scales or
tubercles along the flanks
9. Tarsal spur
11
Main distinguishing features of
chameleons (2)
1. Paired rostral appendages
2. Dorsal crest of a fin-like, undulated sail
3. Fin-like, undulated sail on tail
12
Examples of distinguishing features of
chameleons
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Long annulated rostral horn
Long annulated pre-orbital horn
Lateral crest
Parietal crest
Small occipital lobes, divided by a notch
Temporal crest
Gular crest absent
Chamaeleo
oweni
13
Examples of distinguishing features of
chameleons
1. Parietal crest
2. Lateral crest
3. Rostral crest
Furcifer lateralis, female
1. Lateral crest
2. Large occipital lobes
3. Gular crest composed of
low conical tubercles
Chamaeleo
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dilepis
Examples of distinguishing features of
chameleons
1. Parietal crest
2. Small, elongate occipital lobes
1. Large, scaled gular
lobes
Chamaeleo eisentrauti
Chamaeleo calyptratus
calcarifer
15
Examples of distinguishing features of
chameleons
1. Single scaled rostral appendage
(dorsal view)
Calumma nasuta (male)
1. Paired scaled rostral appendage (dorsal view)
2. Rostral crest
Furcifer minor (male)
16
Examples of the most frequently traded
chameleons
Furcifer lateralis
(male)
Furcifer lateralis
(female)
17
Examples of the most frequently traded
chameleons
Furcifer pardalis
(male)
Furcifer pardalis
(female)
18
Examples of the most frequently traded
chameleons
Furcifer
verrucosus
(male)
Furcifer verrucosus
(female)
19
Examples of the most frequently traded
chameleons
Chamaeleo ellioti
Furcifer oustaleti (male)
20
Examples of the most frequently traded
chameleons
Chamaeleo
calyptratus (male)
Chamaeleo
chamaeleon
21
Examples of the most frequently traded
chameleons
Chamaeleo deremensis
(female)
Chamaeleo
bitaeniatus
22
Examples of the most frequently traded
chameleons
Chamaeleo
dilepis
Chamaeleo fuelleborni (male)
23
Examples of the most frequently traded
chameleons
Chamaeleo
melleri
Chamaeleo
rudis
24
Examples of the most frequently traded
chameleons
Chamaeleo
werneri
(male)
Chamaeleo werneri
(female)
25
Examples of the most frequently traded
chameleons
Chamaeleo
gracilis
Chamaeleo senegalensis
26
Examples of the most frequently traded
chameleons
Chamaeleo
affinis
Chamaeleo africanus (male)
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Example of variations in morphology
within a Genus - Bradypodion spp.
• South African dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion spp.) are
native to isolated locations in East/Southern Africa
• Bradypodion dracomontanum
• Bradypodion tavetanum
• Bradypodion nemorale
• Bradypodion oxyrhinum
• Bradypodion uthmoelleri
• Bradypodion mlanjensis
• Bradypodion setaroi
• Bradypodion thamnobates
• Bradypodion pumilum
• Bradypodion spinosum
• Bradypodion adolfifriderici
• Bradypodion carpenteri
• Bradypodion tenue
• Bradypodion xenorhinum
• Bradypodion fischeri
(Notice the different morphological characteristics within
the same Genus...)
28
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion dracomontanum
(male)
29
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion nemorale
30
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion setaroi
(male)
31
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion
thamnobates
(female)
32
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion carpenteri (male)
33
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion carpenteri (female)
34
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion
adolfifriderici (male)
35
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion fischeri fischeri
(male)
B. fischeri is popular in trade
36
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion fischeri
multituberculatum (male)
37
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion fischeri excubitor
(female)
38
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion
tavetanum (male)
B. tavetanum is popular in trade
39
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion mlanjensis
40
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion pumilum
pumilum (female)
41
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion pumilum karrooicum (female)
42
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion pumilum
gutturale (male)
43
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion pumilum damaranum
44
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion pumilum
transvaalense
45
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion spinosum (female)
46
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion tenue
47
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion xenorhinum
(male)
48
Bradypodion spp.
Bradypodion xenorhinum (female)
49
Identification resources
• The CITES online Identification Manual is a good
source of identification materials on chameleons
– Names
– Characteristics
– Distribution
– Similar species
www.cites.org
Furcifer minor
50
Identification resources
• However, to be able to
use any identification
resources (such as the
CITES Identification
Manual or other guides),
you must use the
morphological
characteristics (size,
shape of head, presence
of crests, lobes horns etc.)
Furcifer rhinoceratus
Chamaeleo
oweni
51
Summary
• Chameleon species are not easy to identify
• Between sexes there may be striking differences in
morphology and coloration
• Within a genus there can be much variation in
morphology and coloration
• Within a species there may be significant geographical
variation in morphology and coloration
• Color patterns are often of no help for identification, and
morphological characteristics must be used
• A good reference is the CITES online Identification Guide
52
CITES Secretariat
Geneva
www.cites.org
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