Communal egglaying in Furcifer minor

Communal egglaying in Furcifer minor

by Alex Negro Science

In chameleons, there are only a few reports of females laying eggs in very close proximity to each other. Archaius tigris is even known to lay eggs together. Such an observation has now also been made in Madagascar, more precisely in the Itremo Massif in the southern highlands of the island.

In January this year, a female Furcifer minor was observed laying eggs in the forest of Antsirankambiaty. Shortly after the first female had finished laying her eggs, a second female only 30 cm away also started to lay eggs (see a video here). Two days later, a third Furcifer minor female laid her eggs between the two existing nests.

All three nests were dug into the sand of a riverbank about 2-3 metres from the water. The site was a rather sunny place with more than 5 hours of sunshine a day, so it might have been better suited for oviposition than the ground in the neighbouring forest fragment. However, it is also possible that the ongoing deforestation and thus the decreasing habitat is causing female Furcifer minor to look for oviposition sites outside their actual habitat. It is unclear whether the third female is one of the first two that returned – unfortunately it was not possible to differentiate between them.

Communal egg-laying in the Lesser Chameleon, Furcifer minor (Günther, 1879), at Itremo Massif Amoron’i Mania Region, Madagascar
Devin Edmonds
Herpetology Notes 17, 2024: 579-581
DOI: nicht vorhanden

Foto: Eines der Furcifer minor bei der Eiablage, fotografiert von Devin Edmonds

Karyograms of five Malagasy chameleons described

Karyograms of five Malagasy chameleons described

by Alex Negro Science

It has been known for many years that the sex of chameleons is genetically determined. However, the karyograms of many species, i.e. the chromosome characteristics, are not yet known for all species. Italian scientists have now analysed the karyograms of five Madagascan chameleon species.

Existing, preserved chameleons were used for the study. One female each of the species Furcifer balteatus, Furcifer petteri, Furcifer major and Furcifer minor were sampled. One male and one female Brookesia superciliaris were also used for the study. All samples were subjected to DNA barcoding analysis using the mitochondrial gene fragment COI as a marker. The extracted DNA was amplified by PCR and then sequenced to create a karyogram for each animal.

The karyogram of Brookesia superciliaris is 2 n = 34 for both sexes. Of the 34 chromosomes, six are macrochromosome pairs and eleven are microchromosome pairs. All macrochromosomes are metacentric. Morphologically, the chromosomes do not differ from each other, so that it remains unclear which could be the sex chromosomes.

Furcifer balteatus has a very special karyogram, which actually fits better with those of the genera Brookesia and Palleon than with the genus Furcifer. The karyogram is 2n = 34, which is the highest number of chromosomes among the chameleons. Of the 34 chromosomes, six are macrochromosome pairs and eleven are microchromosome pairs. The former are all metacentric. There are no morphological differences between the chromosome pairs, so that the sex chromosome has not yet been determined.

The karyogram of Furcifer major is 2n = 24. Nine of the chromosome pairs are macrochromosome pairs and three are microchromosome pairs. Seven of the macrochromosome pairs are metacentric, only pairs two and three are submetacentric. The eleventh chromosome pair, a microchromosome pair, codes for the sex chromosome W.

Furcifer minor has a karyogram of 2n = 22 chromosomes. Of these, eight pairs are macrochromosome pairs and three are microchromosome pairs. Among the macrochromosomes, the first five pairs are metacentric, while the remaining three pairs are acrocentric. A portion of the sixth pair of chromosomes was almost completely heterochromatic and probably represents the sex chromosome W.

The karyogram of Furcifer petteri is also 2n = 22, of which eight pairs of chromosomes are macrochromosomes and three microchromosomes. Seven pairs of macrochromosomes are metacentric, only the fifth pair is submetacentric. The sex chromosome W is part of the seventh pair of macrochromosomes.

All newly described karyograms are deposited in GenBank under the number PQ272538-4. In this study, the genus Furcifer was also found to have the highest diversity in the karyograms. It also appears to be the only genus among all vertebrates that shows all variants of sex chromosome diversification.

New insights on Chromosome Diversification in Malagasy Chameleons
Marcello Mezzasalma, Gaetano Odierna, Rachele Macirella, Elvira Brunelli
Animals 2024, 14: 2818
DOI: 10.3390/ani14192818

Graphic: Karyograms of Brookesia superciliaris and Furcifer balteatus from the above-mentioned study

New distribution record for Kinyongia magomberae

New distribution record for Kinyongia magomberae

by Alex Negro Verbreitung Science

Scientists from Tanzania and England recently carried out a survey study of the herpetofauna in the Kimboza forest. Kimboza is located in eastern Tanzania on the edge of the Eastern Arc Mountains, a 600 km long mountain range. To the west of Kimboza are the Uluguru Mountains, to the east the Ruvu Reserve. Kimboza is one of the smallest reserves in Tanzania with an area of only 4 km². It ranges in altitude from 170 to 480 metres.

To detect reptiles and amphibians, manual searches were carried out on two nights in December and January and for eleven consecutive months between December and June. In addition, bucket traps were placed in the ground along two lines, a total of between 11 and 20 buckets at a distance of 5 metres from each other. The animals found were identified morphologically using existing field guides. Samples were taken from 12 finds in order to genetically confirm the species identification.

A total of 42 different reptile species and 29 amphibian species were recorded in Kimboza. As expected, Trioceros melleri, Rieppeleon brevicaudatus and Chamaeleo dilepis were among the known chameleons of the forest. However, the study also revealed something astonishing: Kinyongia magomberae, actually known from the forest of Magombera and from the lowlands of the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, was found there. This corresponds to an extension of the distribution area of this species of 128 km. In a study from 1994, Kinyongia oxyrhina is already mentioned once in Kimboza. Even then it could have been a case of confusion and actually a Kinyongia magomberae. The species may have been much more widespread in the past than it is today. However, as the lowland rainforests of Tanzania have been extensively deforested for many decades, the chameleon’s habitat has been greatly reduced – and could have led to the spread of a species in forest areas that are no longer contiguous today.

Kimboza, a small lowland forest with an outstanding herpetofauna diversity in east Africa
John V. Lyakurwa, Simon P. Loader, Wilirk Ngalason, Rikki Gumbs, Caleb Ofori-Boateng, H. Christoph Liedtke
Nature Notes 14(10), 2024
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70406

Picture: Kinyongia magomberae, photographed by Andrew R Marshall in Mwanihana forest, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported

(Deutsch) Jemenchamäleons suchen neue Halter

(Deutsch) Jemenchamäleons suchen neue Halter

by Alex Negro Abzugeben

Two Veiled Chameleons arrived at the reptile rescue centre in Munich yesterday. Both animals were confiscated and will not be returned to their original owners, so they will probably be released for rehoming shortly. They are two adult females who so far appear to be healthy. The results of the blood check-up and the quarantine at the rescue centre are still pending. However, anyone who is already interested in the two or one of the females is welcome to contact the rescue centre now. A questionnaire for interested parties can be found on their website.

Photo: One of the female Veiled Chameleons, photographed at the reptile rescue centre, Munich

Presentation in Frankfurt about Madagascar

Presentation in Frankfurt about Madagascar

by Alex Negro Live lectures

On Tuesday, 01 October 2024, Rainer Dolch will give an exciting lecture at Frankfurt Zoo. Rainer Dolch has been working for the Mitsinjo Association in the eastern highlands of Madagascar for years, so he will be giving a first-hand report.

As a remnant of the ancient continent of Gondwana, Madagascar has been isolated in the Indian Ocean for more than a hundred million years. Due to the long period of isolation, evolution has gone its own way here and has produced a unique animal and plant world.

These include the lemurs, which comprise more than a hundred species, endemic predators such as the mongoose-like vontsiras and the puma-like fossas, as well as representatives of the tanreks – a group of mammals related to elephants and aardvarks – reminiscent of hedgehogs and shrews. Madagascar’s extinct megafauna also included several species of hippopotamus and giant lemurs as well as the giant ratite Aepyornis. The island’s animal world that still exists today is also massively threatened with extinction due to human influence. In his lecture, Rainer Dolch presents approaches for the urgently needed protection of this unique living world.

Rainer Dolch From Aye-Aye to Fossa – A laboratory of evolution: Can Madagascar’s unique living world still be saved? [German language]
Grzimek House
Zoo Frankfurt (Entry via Rhönstraße)
Bernhard-Grzimek-Allee 1
60316 Frankfurt am Main
Presentation starts at 6.00 p.m.

New leaf chameleon in Madagascar

New leaf chameleon in Madagascar

by Alex Negro Neubeschreibungen

There are tiny chameleons in many places in Madagascar, including the smallest in the world. Now another tiny terrestrial chameleon has been described by Malagasy and German scientists: Brookesia nofy.

Brookesia nofy lives in a small remnant of lowland rainforest on the central east coast of Madagascar, in the Akanin’ny Nofy reserve. It probably also occurs in the neighbouring Vohibola reserve. The new species is related to Brookesia ramanantsoai, which occurs in the eastern highlands and not quite as close to the coast. Madagascar’s lowland rainforests are extremely threatened by deforestation. It is therefore all the better that this small chameleon already lives in two protected areas. Incidentally, the name nofy is the Malagasy word for dream and is therefore appropriate in two respects: firstly, because it was found in the ‘nest of dreams’ and secondly, because it lives in its own protected area, thus ensuring its survival for the time being.

A new miniaturized species of leaf chameleon, genus Brookesia, from a littoral forest fragment in eastern Madagascar
Andolalao Rakotoarison, Alida Frankline Hasiniaina, Frank Glaw, Miguel Vences
Zootaxa Vol. 5506(4):533-547
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5506.4.3

Picture: Brookesia nofy in Akanin’ny Nofy, photographed by Alex Negro

Occurrence of the European chameleon in Tlemcen (Algeria)

Occurrence of the European chameleon in Tlemcen (Algeria)

by Alex Negro Verbreitung Science

The 21.6 km² Tlemcen Hunting Reserve is located in the north of Algeria, in the province of the same name. The climate is Mediterranean, the province borders the Alborán Sea (the westernmost part of the Mediterranean Sea) and lies directly opposite south-east Spain. The reserve is located around 26 kilometres southwest of the city of Tlemcen, the second largest city in Algeria, and spans the highest areas of the Tlemcen Mountains.

A local veterinarian and biologist recently carried out a survey study of the animals currently found in the reserve. In order to investigate the herpetofauna, manual searches or traps were set along measured transects. Chamaeleo chamaeleon was found several times during the study.

Inventory of wildlife in the Tlemcen Hunting Reserve
Rafiq Rahmouni, Louiza Derouiche
Genetics and Biodiversity Journal 8(2), 2024
DOI: not available

Picture: Chamaeleo chameleon, photographed by Peter A. Mansfeld, licence Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported

New modelling of species loss in Madagascar

New modelling of species loss in Madagascar

by Alex Negro Verbreitung Science

For some time now, there have been various programmes and algorithms that can make various predictions about how many species in a country or region could be threatened with extinction in the future based on given data. Until now, this has always required a whole series of locations and data for the respective animal species as a basis. However, these are often not available for rare species.

Italian scientists have now developed an algorithm called ENphylo, which can make predictions from just two observations per species. It was tested in parallel to conventional algorithms on a model with 56 chameleon species from Madagascar. The occurrence and locations of the chameleons were taken from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Various scenarios of climate change and progressive changes in land use were modelled using CHELSA and other databases for the period between 2071 and 2100. For each of the chameleon species, 45 modelled predictions were calculated in the study.hnet.

As a result, the scientists predict a habitat loss of over 90% for the species Brookesia decaryi, Brookesia brunoi, Calumma globifer, Brookesia desperata, Brookesia karchei, Brookesia micra, Brookesia tristis, Calumma amber, Calumma guibei, Calumma ambreense, Calumma nasutum, Calumma fallax, Calumma peltierorum, Calumma boettgeri, Furcifer petteri and Furcifer willsii. As a result, these species would be directly threatened with extinction by 2100 due to climate change and changes in land use in Madagascar. The greatest area losses in potential habitats are expected in the dry forests of the west and north-west and the lowland rainforests of the east coast. The potential habitat loss is also expected to affect species that only occur in a very small distribution area but are very common there, such as Brookesia tuberculata.

An increasing development of the habitat is only assumed for Furcifer oustaleti, Furcifer rhinoceratus, Calumma parsonii (unfortunately without indication of the subspecies), Calumma oshaughnessyi, Calumma crypticum, Calumma brevicorne and Brookesia supericilaris. According to the various calculation models, Madagascar could lose between eight and eleven chameleon species by the year 2100.

Modelling reveals the effect of climate and land use change on Madagascar’s chameleons fauna
Alessandro Mondanaro, Mirko di Febbraro, Silvia Castiglione, Arianna Morena Belfiore, Girogia Girardi, Marina Melchionna, Carmela Serio, Antonella Esposito, Pasquale Raia
Communications Biology 7, 2024: 889
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06597-5

 

Photo: Calumma crypticum in Ranomafana, Madagascar, photographed by Alex Laube

Chameleons in traditional medicine in Sierra Leone

Chameleons in traditional medicine in Sierra Leone

by Alex Negro Science

In Sierra Leone in West Africa, animal parts are still used in traditional medicine today. Two scientists from the University of Nala have now investigated exactly which ones and what they are used for.

The study was conducted in the chiefdoms of Kowa and Dasse between March and July 2023. Around 24,000 inhabitants live here, almost all of them farmers. Both areas are located in the Moyamba region in eastern Sierra Leone and are sparsely populated with the exception of four urban regions. The scientists interviewed 40 people and visited the patients they were treating. The interviewees included herbalists, traditional healers, fetish priests and obstetricians selected by the local population. People familiar with the area were asked about the fauna present. The animal parts used were photographed and sampled as far as possible.

As many as 17 of the interviewees had attended secondary school, while 17 others had received no schooling at all. All of them stated that they had learnt the healing methods used from their ancestors. 30 of the 40 interviewees made their living from traditional medicine and had been practising for around 30 years. A few even stated that they earned between $ 2120 and $ 4230 per year (the average for an employee in Sierra Leone is $ 2900 per year). Forty-five animal species were used for medicinal purposes, and 40 diseases were named as indications. The most frequently used animals, around a third, were reptiles, followed directly by amphibians, snails and mammals. Primates alone accounted for 10% of the animals used.

Chamaeleo gracilis was mentioned eighteen times during the interviews as a potential remedy. It is locally called ‘duqui’. Its skin, muscle parts and intestines are said to improve memory. It is also used for various mystical purposes. Most parts are eaten cooked.

Traditional medicines containing animal parts: Use in Kowa and Dasse chiefdoms, Southern Sierra Leone
Jonathan Johnny, Alhassan Bangura
Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2024, 13(3): pp. 308-317
DOI: 10.22271/phyto.2024.v13.i3d.14972

Photo: Chamaeleo gracilis photographed by kogia, licence Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International