Presentation in Landau about Madagascar

Presentation in Landau about Madagascar

by Alex Negro Reiseberichte Live lectures

On Saturday, 21 March 2026, Patrick Schönecker will give a richly illustrated talk on Madagascar. And there will be plenty of cameleons to see!

Patrick Schönecker has been travelling to the island of Madagascar for 25 years, exploring numerous habitats across the country. In recent years, his travels have increasingly focused on the humid and semi-arid regions – with a particular emphasis on species hotspots and the last remaining areas of rainforest and dry forest. The result is a talk that documents Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity with impressive nature photographs, placing particular emphasis on the fascinating herpetofauna.

The lecture centres on two areas that are quite contrasting in terms of their natural environment: on the one hand, the rainforest belt around Andasibe, where a network of state and private protected areas ensures the connectivity of the eastern highlands. On the other hand, the remaining forests in the north of the island, whose limestone-rich landscapes have given rise to a multitude of local microhabitats and endemic species.

Although the focus is on the herpetofauna, our speaker does not overlook the enormous diversity of endemic mammals, insects and plants – and invites his audience on an impressive journey through the threatened natural paradises of one of the most unique islands on our planet.

Patrick Schönecker Madagascar’s fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians – insights into the biodiversity of the hotspots in the central highlands and north of the island [German]
DGHT regional group Kurpfalz
Reptilium Landau
Werner-Heisenberg-Straße 1
76829 Landau in der Pfalz
The lecture begins at 8.00 pm; doors open at 7.00 pm

Picture: Calumma parsonii parsonii, photographed by Patrick Schönecker

Abundance of the world’s smallest chameleon (Madagascar)

Abundance of the world’s smallest chameleon (Madagascar)

by Alex Negro Beobachtungen Science

The world’s smallest known chameleon was discovered a few years ago in Sorata, in northern Madagascar. The Sorata Forest forms part of the Marojejy-Anjanaharibe-South Tsaratanana corridor (COMATSA), an area of fragmented forest remnants situated between the major national parks mentioned and the Réserve Naturelle Intégrale. It is currently managed by the WWF in collaboration with a local organisation called Ambodimandresy Miaro ny Ala.

Scientists from the universities of Antsiranana and Antananarivo have now investigated the abundance of Brookesia nana in Sorata. For 14 nights during the rainy season, they searched for the tiny chameleons along 14 transects, each 150 metres long.

In total, the scientists found 0.33 individuals per 100 m. In concrete terms, this means that only seven Brookesia nana were found across the 2,100 m of transects. The females were slightly larger than the males. All the chameleons were found sleeping on very low vegetation, on average just 7 cm above the ground.

The low abundance necessitates further studies in other forests of the COMATSA corridor to determine the exact distribution of Brookesia nana. It is also interesting to note that Brookesia nana appears to be rarer than other species of the minima group, suggesting that the species may be at greater risk of extinction.

A brief overview of the natural history of the recently described, miniaturised leaf chameleon, Brookesia nana Glaw et al., 2021, from Sorata Forest, northeastern Madagascar
Jeanneney Rabearivony, Andriatsitohaina Ranaivojaona, Asmeralie Willian, Crispin Jaohasy, Moussaïna Jao, Achille P. Raselimanana
Herpetology Notes 19, 2026: 123-128.
DOI: not available
Free article download

Photo: Brookesia nana, found in the study mentioned, photographed by Asmeralie William

Chameleons in Namoroka (Madagascar)

Chameleons in Namoroka (Madagascar)

by Alex Negro Verbreitung Science

The Tsingy de Namoroka are located in the hot west of Madagascar. They consist of needle-sharp karst rock with caves beneath and are surrounded by fragments of dry forest. Although the Tsingy are now a national park, access has so far been extremely difficult due to a complete lack of infrastructure and paths, and is even impossible during the rainy season.

The scientists carried out survey studies at three different locations within the national park. To do this, they used three 1,000 to 1,500 m transect lines at each site, along with pitfall traps. In addition, specific habitats such as caves were specifically targeted.

A total of 57 animal species were recorded in Namoroka, 41 of which were reptiles. Brookesia brygooi, Furcifer angeli and Furcifer oustaleti were recorded at all three sites surveyed. Brookesia bonsi, which is endemic to Namoroka, was found at only one site. This is an area situated at an altitude of 87 m, with trees ranging from 6 to 15 m in height and a relatively open canopy. The area is characterised by dense, virtually impenetrable undergrowth, particularly in the damp, rocky gorges between the Tsingy.

The scientists point out that slash-and-burn farming and the resulting uncontrollable bushfires continue to pose a major risk to the animals’ habitats in Namoroka. Logging, as well as the harvesting of wild honey, wild root tubers and medicinal plants, also ensures that the national park’s habitats are disturbed. Zebus are also driven into the national park to graze. Effective protection of the area is very difficult due to its remote location and the high levels of poverty among the local population.

Aperçu des amphibiens et des reptiles du Parc National de Namoroka: Diversité biologique, intérêt biogéographique et représentativité en matière de conservation
Hajaniaina Rasoloarison, Bernard Ranriamahatantsoa, Nirhy Rabibisoa, Christopher J. Raxworthy
Malagasy Nature 2026, 20: 30-46.
DOI: not available
Free article download

Picture: Brookesia bonsi in Namoroka, from the afore mentioned publication

Chameleons as moral authorities

Chameleons as moral authorities

by Alex Negro Beobachtungen

Although the area around Maroantsetra in northern Madagascar is largely Christian, ancestor worship is still widespread. This includes sacred animals, places, commandments and prohibitions, as well as taboos passed down through generations. A theologian has now investigated what the so-called hiaña is all about in the area around Masoala National Park.

Over a period of three months, he interviewed 20 people aged between 12 and over 60 years from Maroantsetra. Eleven men and nine women, all from the Betsimisaraka ethnic group, took part in the survey. The theologian also observed interactions with chameleons in and around Maroantsetra.

The respondents stated that chameleons in the area are preferably called amboalava, which translates as long dog. In other regions of Madagascar, the terms tanalahy and tarondro are predominantly used, but these are less common among the Betsimisaraka people of Maroantsetra.

The respondents understood hiaña to be a spiritual, God-given power that is inherent primarily in chameleons, but also in special places. In Maroantsetra, the panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) is said to possess hiaña, presumably because it is the most commonly encountered species. Other respondents stated that chameleons even function as a kind of moral authority through which the ancestors control the affairs of the living.

Most respondents stated that harming a chameleon would result in negative consequences from the ancestors. However, the nature of these consequences differed considerably between the answers given by the various individuals. One person reported that if a human harmed a chameleon, the same injury would befall the human being. The injured hiaña would then have to be cured, similar to a curse, through the ritual of a traditional healer. One person said that he had injured a chameleon and then suffered severe pain himself. Only when he killed the still suffering chameleon did the pain stop. Another person reported that her child had died after accidentally killing a chameleon. There is therefore no uniform interpretation of hiaña, but rather individual stories that are retrospectively interwoven with hiaña and interpreted accordingly.

Several respondents stated that although chameleons possessed hiaña, it could not harm a devout Christian, as the Christian faith took precedence over the traditional ancestor cult. Interestingly, it was mainly the younger people in the interviews who stated that chameleons were important and rather peaceful creatures. They did not associate the animals negatively with hiaña. Several boys stated that they had already interacted with chameleons without any negative consequences.

Hiaña as a moral-ecological system: Chameleons, sacred potency, and human-animal relations in Maroantsetra, Madagascar
Olivier Randrianjaka
Preprint
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.30826.38088
Free article download

Picture: Furcifer pardalis in Maroantsetra, photographed by Alex Negro

Webinar about herpetology in South Africa

Webinar about herpetology in South Africa

by Alex Negro Live lectures Webinars Science

On Wednesday, 11 February 2026, Wade Stanton-Jones will give an online lecture on his research in South Africa.

Wade is the new representative for students and young scientists of the Herpetological Association of Africa (HAA). He will talk about his previous and current research work and provide information on what students and young scientists can expect in the coming months. Wade’s research has primarily focused on the sungazer Smaug giganteus. However, his work has also dealt extensively with the dwarf chameleons of the genus Bradypodion, of which there are several species in South Africa. If you are interested in attending the lecture, please register via this link. Participation in the webinar is free of charge.

Wade Stanton-Jones A brief journey in African Herpetology: Community, Research, and the road ahead
Online webinar
Lecture begins at 5 p.m. (Please note the time difference! In Johannesburg, it will be 6 p.m., as stated in the lecture announcement.)

Presentation in Dortmund about Kenya

Presentation in Dortmund about Kenya

by Alex Negro Reiseberichte Live lectures

On Friday, 6 February 2026, Rolf Mätzkow will give a richly illustrated lecture about an exciting journey in Kenya. And chameleons will not be neglected!

Kenya attracts visitors not only with its high biodiversity, but also with its diverse landscapes. The short herpetological tour takes viewers via Naivasha to the Kakamega Rainforest, Kenya’s only tropical (lowland) rainforest. Further along the route, the chameleon-rich heights of Njoro invite you to stop off before the journey continues to Mount Kenya National Park – and not just for the chameleons. Of course, the savannah landscape is a must on this tour, and so Tsavo National Park, with its snakes, lizards and tortoises, fits seamlessly into our tour concept. A visit to the coastal landscape of Watamu, where we finally get to see coral skinks, brings this short tour to a harmonious close.

Rolf Mätzkow Kenya – a herpetological round trip [German]
DGHT Stadtgruppe Dortmund
Restaurant Olympia – Zur alten Post
Im alten Dorf 2
59192 Bergkamen
Lecture begins at 7.30 p.m.

Photos: Collage by Rolf Mätzkow accompanying the lecture

Chamaeleo africanus found in Greece outside Pylos

Chamaeleo africanus found in Greece outside Pylos

by Alex Negro Verbreitung Science

It has long been known that Chamaeleo africanus occurs in the lagoon of Gialova, in the Pylos region (Greece). It differs not only visually but also genetically from Chamaeleo chameleon, which is relatively widespread in southern Europe. There have been sporadic reports of other occurrences of Chamaeleo africanus in Greece, but until now there has been no scientific evidence of the species in areas other than Pylos.

Scientists have now identified a second population of the species. They found at least seven individuals of the species about 130 km north of the Gialova lagoon on the Peloponnese. The chameleons live in a Natura 2000 area called Limnothalassa Kalogrias /Dasos Strogylias Kai Elos Lamias. A young animal was sampled via cheek swab to genetically confirm the species Chamaeleo africanus.

Genetic evidence for the presence of Chamaeleo africanus in Greece outside the Pylos region
Erika Lego, Maria Koutsokali, Michael Valachas
Conservation Genetics Resourecs 18(5), 2026
DOI: 0.1007/s12686-026-01409-w
Free preview of the article

Photo: Chamaeleo africanus, photographed by Benny Trapp, CC BY-SA 3.0

The flap-necked chameleon in northern Mozambique

The flap-necked chameleon in northern Mozambique

by Alex Negro Verbreitung Science

Scientists recently searched for reptiles in the municipality of Mocuba in northern Mozambique to compile an inventory of the species found there. They examined a so-called miombo dry forest (a type of sparse forest savannah with hardly any undergrowth) and a nearby granite rock called Mount Morué, which is only 361 metres high.

Over several months during the rainy and dry seasons, both habitats were searched for seven days at a time (42 days in total). The scientists used pitfall traps and searched with the naked eye during the day along predetermined transects. Reptiles were identified using existing field guides and with the help of experts. In addition, some animals were killed and added to the Zambezi University collection.

A total of 23 different reptile species were observed. Chamaeleo dilepis was found six times. All chameleons were found in the Miombo woodland and not a single chameleon was found on the granite rock of Mount Morué. Two chameleons were hunting for prey, while two others were still in a sleeping position when found early in the morning. Another lappet chameleon had ended up in a pit trap. The species is already known from many finds in Mozambique. However, no finds had been made in Mocuba until now.

Beyond the asymptote: a near-complete reptile inventory in the Miombo woodland and on Mount Morué, Mocuba Municipality, with a major range extension for the lizard Nucras boulengeri Neumann, 1900
Avelino R. Miguel, Berta I. Sitole, Nando A.M. Calonga, Celso H. Duarte, Dolescêncio Armando, Célia J.A. Nanvonamuquitxo, Hinrich Kaiser
Herpetology Notes 18: 1051-1071.
DOI: not available
Free article download

Photo: Chamaeleo dilepis in the Miombo Woodlands, photographed by Miguel Avelino

Presentation in Munster about Madagascar’s chameleons

Presentation in Munster about Madagascar’s chameleons

by Alex Negro Reiseberichte Live lectures Science

The DGHT Münster is also starting the new year with lots of chameleons. On Friday, 16 January 2026, Philip-Sebastian Gehring will give a detailed lecture on Madagascar and its many chameleons.

Madagascar is home to almost half of all known chameleon species worldwide, all of which are found exclusively on this island. This extraordinary diversity makes Madagascar’s chameleons an important subject of scientific research, as they offer unique insights into the mechanisms of evolution and adaptation. Over the past 20 years, numerous studies and new discoveries have significantly expanded our understanding of species diversity and evolutionary processes within this group of reptiles. In particular, the identification and description of new species and the investigation of their genetic differences have provided key insights into the origin and differentiation of species. The lecture will provide a comprehensive overview of this research and clearly present the current state of research on Madagascan chameleons.

Dr. Philip-Sebastian Gehring Evolution and diversity of Madagascar’s chameleons – Latest research findings [German]
DGHT city group Munster
Zoo school of Allwetterzoo Munster
Sentruper Straße 315
48161 Münster
Lecture begins at 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m. via the main entrance of the zoo.

Photos: small Calumma species in Madagascar, photographed by Philip-Sebastian Gehring

Chameleons in Elaphe magazine

Chameleons in Elaphe magazine

by Alex Negro Haltungsberichte Newspaper articles

In the latest issue of Elaphe, which DGHT members received in their postboxes in December 2025, the cover story is finally about chameleons again. AG member Sophie Obermeier has written an interesting article on moral and ethical issues surrounding chameleon keeping. There is also a husbandry report on the Seychelles tiger chameleon, Archaius tigris, and an article on the Mayotte chameleon, Furcifer polleni. Enjoy reading!