Presentation in Frankfurt about Ethiopia

Presentation in Frankfurt about Ethiopia

by Alex Negro Reiseberichte Live lectures Science

On Friday, 26 September 2025, herpetologist Dr Arthur Tiutenko from Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg will give a lecture accompanied by numerous images about a very special forest in Ethiopia.

The Harenna Forest, which stretches along the southern slopes of the Bale Mountains in southern Ethiopia, is one of the last remaining forest areas in the Horn of Africa and the largest remaining rainforest on the African mainland. It is not only home to Arabica coffee, but also to numerous other endemic plant and animal species, many of which have not yet been scientifically discovered and described. The herpetofauna of the Harenna Forest includes more than 40 species, including the two large Ethiopian vipers – Bitis harenna and Bitis parviocula. The habitats of these animals and the entire ecosystem are being destroyed by overpopulation and increasing economic exploitation. Even the future of the officially protected parts of the forest looks bleak. This makes it all the more important to gain knowledge about the species that still live in the forest before it is too late. Arthur Tiutenko has explored the Harenna Forest in ten expeditions, the results of which he reports on in this lecture.

Dr. Arthur Tiutenko Harenna Forest, Ethiopia – 12 years of expeditions into the last rainforest in the Horn of Africa [German]
DGHT Stadtgruppe Frankfurt
Zoo school of Zoo Frankfurt
Bernhard-Grzimek-Allee 1
60316 Frankfurt am Main
Lecture begins at 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m. via the exit gate at the main entrance on Alfred-Brehm-Platz (gate between the zoo shop and the zoo society building).

Photo: Trioceros balebicornutus, photographed by Arthur Tiutenko on one of his travels

Chameleon literature available

Chameleon literature available

by Alex Negro Abzugeben AG Interna

A long-standing member of our working group has kindly provided us with a whole series of books and papers on chameleons and other reptiles, which are now being made available for the benefit of the Chameleon Working Group (AG Chamäleons). Among them are some very old original treasures and many out-of-print editions of books. All books and papers can be sent by post (from Germany), with shipping costs added to the price. If you are interested, please send an email to info@agchamaeleons.de . Below is a list of the available literature with information on its condition. Photos of all items are available on request or here.

1 Philippe Philippe de Vosjoli: Essential Care of Chameleons
Paperback, 72 pages, 3rd edition from 2004, out of print
Price: €10
Condition: Very good, inside flawless, outside with slight wear to corners and edges

2 Wolfgang Schmidt, Klaus Tamm, Erich Wallikewitz: Chamäleons, Drachen unsrer Zeit
Paperback, 160 pages, 2nd edition from 1996
Price: €10
Condition: Very good, inside flawless, outside with slight wear to corners and edges

3 Rolf Müller, Nicolá Lutzmann, Ulrike Walbröl: Furcifer pardalis, das Pantherchamäleon
Paperback, 127 pages, 1st edition from 2004, out of print
Price: €10
Condition: almost like new, minimal wear to corners on the outside

4 Dr. Wolfgang Uthmöller: Schlangen wie ich sie sah
Hardcover, 127 pages, probably from 1948
Price: €20
Condition: very good for its age, pages naturally yellowed, edges and cover stained in places, remnants of old stickers inside the cover, pages themselves in perfect condition.

5 Joseph Nicolai Laurenti: Austriaci Viennensis Specimen medicum exhibens Synopsin Reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum
Paperback, 248 pages, reprint with English translation from 2005
Price: €25
Condition: like new

6 James B. Murphy: Chameleons: Johann von Fischer and other perspectives
Paperback, 123 pages, 1st edition from 2005
Price: €15
Condition: very good, minimal wear to corners and very slight creases on the outside, inside in perfect condition

7 Vincent A. Wagner: The life of the chameleon
Paperback, 32 pages, 2nd edition from 1987
Condition: good to very good, cover slightly worn on the edges and corners (see photo), inside in perfect condition

8 Philippe de Vosjoli: True chameleons Part II, Notes on popular species, diseases and disorders
Paperback, 28 pages, 1st edition 1990, out of print
Price: €15
Condition: good, cover with storage stains and minimal creases, interior flawless

9 Philippe de Vosjoli: True Chameleons Part I Husbandry
Paperback, 36 pages, 1st edition 1990, out of print
Price: €15
Condition: good, cover with minor stains, spine slightly bumped, interior flawless

10 Frank Glaw, Miguel Vences: A field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of Madagascar
Paperback, 480 pages, 2nd edition from 1994
Price: €5
Condition: very good, edges and corners bumped, inside flawless

11 Krystal Tolley, Marius Burger: Chameleons of Southern Africa
Paperback, 100 pages, 1st edition from 2007
Price: €15
Condition: almost like new, corners and edges minimally bumped

12 Michaela Jötzlaff: Das Helmchamäleon (Trioceros) hoehnelli
Paperback, 63 pages, 1st edition from 2008
Price: €10
Condition: like new, inside with dedication and name

13 Rudolf Malkmus: Die Amphibien und Reptilien Portugals, Madeiras und der Azoren
Paperback, 98 pages, 1st edition from 1995
Price: €15
Condition: very good, minor stains on the cover and edges, inside flawless

14 Francois LeBerre, R.D. Bartlett, Patricia Bartlett: The Chameleon Handbook
Paperback, 128 pages, 2nd edition from 2000
Price: €15
Condition: like new, price sticker on the back of the cover

15 R.D. Bartlett, Patricia Bartlett: Chameleons, a complete pet owner’s manual
Paperback, 103 pages, 1st edition from 1995
Price: 10 €
Condition: very good, corners and edges slightly bumped, spine faded

16 Günther Masurat: Vermehrung von Chamäleons
Hardcover, 143 pages, 1st edition from 2005
Price: 15 €
Condition: very good, corners slightly bumped, inside like new

17 Gaston-Francois de Witte: Les Caméléons de l’Afrique Centrale
Paperback, > 200 pages, presumably 1st edition from 1965, out of print
Price:  40 €
Condition: very good, spine faded, edges minimally bumped, pencil notes on first page inside, interior flawless

18 E.-R. Brygoo: Faune de Madagascar, XXXIII Reptiles Sauriens Chamaeleonidae Genre Chamaeleo
Paperback, 318 pages, 1st edition from 1971
Price: €40
Condition: good, cover yellowed, edges of spine clearly bumped, both corners of back cover missing; inside completely flawless

19 Philippe de Vosjoli, Gary Ferguson: Care and Breeding of Chameleons
Paperback, 128 pages, 1st edition from 1995, out of print
Price: €15
Condition: good to very good, cover scuffed, especially at the corners and edges, with small tears and creases, spine faded, inside in perfect condition

20 Rolf Müller, Wolfgang Schmidt: Stummelschwanzchamäleons der Gattung Rieppeleon Paperback, 95 pages, 1st edition from 2008
Price: 10 €
Condition: very good, edges bumped in places, dedication by the authors on the first page, otherwise inside in perfect condition

21 Fitzinger’s Systema Reptilium
Paperback, 115 pages, reprint from 1973, out of print
Price: €30
Condition: small note in pencil on the first page, otherwise flawless; spine slightly faded, corners and edges slightly bumped

22 Henkel, Schmidt: Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands, Seychelles and Comoros
Hardcover, 312 pages, 1st edition from 1995
Price: €10
Condition: good to very good, corners slightly bumped, cover faded, interior flawless

23 J.E. Gray’s The Zoological Miscellany
Paperback, 90 pages, 1st edition from 1971
Price: €10
Condition: good to very good, spine and parts of the cover discoloured/faded, otherwise flawless

24 William R. Branch, Aaron M. Bauer: The herpetological contributions of Sir Andrew Smith
Paperback, 85 pages, 1st edition from 2005
Price: €15
Condition: like new

25 Charles Klaver, Wolfgang Böhme: Phylogeny and classification of the Chamaeleonidae (Sauria) with special reference to hemipenis morphology
Paperback, 64 pages, 1st edition from 1986
Condition: minor damage to spine, spine faded, otherwise very good

26 Robert Mertens, Willi Henning, Heinz Wermuth: Das Tierreich, eine Zusammenstellung und Kennzeichnung der rezenten Tierformen
Paperback, 38 pages, 1st edition from 1966
Condition: very good, corners and edges bumped, pencil note on the first page, otherwise flawless inside

27 A. E. Gunther: The miscellaneous autobiographical manuscripts of John Edward Gray (1800-1875)
Paperback, 245 pages, 1st edition from 1980
Price: €10
Condition: good to very good, pencil note on cover, cover with minor creases and stains, interior flawless

28 A.S. Rand: Notes on the Chamaeleo bitaeniatus complex
Paperback, 30 pages, 1st edition from 1963
Price: €10
Condition: very good, minor stains on the bottom of the cover, spine faded, edges ditto, interior flawless

29 Robert Mertens: The Chameleon of Pemba Island
2 pages from 1964
Price: €10
Condition: very good, minimal creases on the top edge

30 Separate of a paper published by The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature on behalf of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
3 pages stapled, from 1971
Price: €10
Condition: very good, cover with crease in upper corner and very small spots

31 Prof. Dr. Robert Mertens: Live-bearing three-horned chameleons
Issue 7/8 Natur und Volk from 1949, 5 pages
Price:
Condition: very good, slight creases, interior flawless

32 Thomas Barbour: Two new species of chameleons
Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, Vol. XVI, 1903, 1 page
Price: €15
Condition: very good

33 Zoologischer Anzeiger from 10 April 1893
Price: €25
Condition: very good, title page with stamp and handwritten note, otherwise flawless for its age

34 A. Stanley Rand: A new subspecies of Chamaeleo jacksonii Boulenger and a key to the species of three-horned chameleons
Breviora, Museum of Comparative Zoology No. 99, 4 pages from 1958

Price: €15
Condition: very good, note on the top right of the title page, slight creases

35 Claudia Schnieper, Max Meier: Das Chamäleon, Meisterschütze und Verwandlungskünstler
Hardcover, 40 pages, 2nd edition 1988
Price: €5
Condition: very good, minimal marks on the cover, slight discolouration of the inner page edges

36 Friedrich Wilhelm Henkel, Wolfgang Schmidt: Agamen im Terrarium
Hardcover, 151 pages, 1st edition 1997
Price: €10
Condition: very good, two corners of the cover clearly bumped, tiny tear in the spine, otherwise flawless

37 Martin Eisentraut: Im Schatten des Mongo-ma-loba
Hardcover, 240 pages, 1st edition 1982
Price: €5
Condition: good to very good, cover faded with minor creases, corners slightly bumped, small pencil note on first page, interior flawless

38 Gunther Köhler: Inkubation von Reptilieneiern
Hardcover, 205 pages, 1st edition from 1997
Price: €10
Condition: good to very good, cover significantly faded, otherwise flawless

39 Kameleon Vereniging Nederland: Chameleons, a fascinating hobby
Paperback, 96 pages, Lacerta 64-5/6 from 2006
Price:
Condition: very good, corners and edges minimally bumped

40 Martin Eisentraut: The vertebrate fauna of Fernando Poo and West Cameroon
Bonner Zoologische Monographien No. 3, 1973
Price: €20
Condition: good to very good, cover faded in places, edges and corners bumped

41 Annals of the South African Museum Cape Town, Vol. 61, 1973
Paperback, 160 pages
Price: €40
Condition: good, cover with various creases and stains, interior flawless

42 Herpetozoa 18(3/4) from 2005
Paperback, pages 97-208
Price: €20
Condition: like new

44 E.-R. Brygoo: Faune de Madagacar 47, Reptiles Sauriens Chamaeleonidae: Genre Brookesia et complement pour le genre Chamaeleo
Paperback, 174 pages, from 1978
Price: €35
Condition: very good, crease and small tear in the spine, inside in perfect condition

45 Linda J. Davison: Chameleons, their care and breeding
Paperback, 112 pages, edition from 1997
Price: €25
Condition: very good, dedication by the author on the first page (without name), slight crease at top right, cover with several very small spots

46 Draco Terraristik special issue Madagascar
No. 19, Volume 5, 3-2004; paperback, 96 pages
Price: €20
Condition: like new

47 Draco Terraristik Special Issue Chameleons
No. 1/2000, Volume 1(1), 96 pages
Price: €20
Condition: like new

49 Verenigingsblad van de Kameleonvereniging Nederland No. 1, 2004
28 pages
Price: €5
Condition: good to very good, punched and cover slightly yellowed, inside flawless

50 Treatises of the Senckenberg Natural History Society, No. 442
Robert Mertens: Herpetological Findings from a Trip to Cameroon
Paperback, 60 pages, 1938
Price: €35
Condition: very good for its age, cover with a very small tear at the top, spine bumped, a small piece missing at the bottom, above which the spine is torn, cover and pages yellowed at the edges, first page inside with small stains, everything else inside in perfect condition

Impact of roads on the European chameleon

Impact of roads on the European chameleon

by Alex Negro Science

Although the European chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) is locally widespread on the Iberian Peninsula, its habitat is often cut through by roads in densely populated coastal areas. Biologists at the University of Málaga (Spain) recently investigated whether and how busy roads affect the behaviour and population density of the European chameleon.

They studied a privately owned study area in the province of Málaga in southern Spain, located on the edge of the A7 motorway. The A7 has a high volume of traffic, with 43,121 cars passing through every day. The study area consisted of abandoned olive and almond groves, but mainly large areas of scrubland with yellow broom and broom-like plants such as lavender, fennel and green dwarf palms.

The biologists divided the study area into five 225-metre-wide fields, each at different distances from the A7 motorway. At night, they searched for chameleons using torches. The sex, season, weight and position of any Chamaeleo chamaeleon found were recorded and their occurrence statistically evaluated. In addition, they noted the type of vegetation in which the animals were found and whether food was available. In order to better assess the availability of arthropods, these were caught in traps, identified and counted.

A total of 148 adult and 92 juvenile Chamaeleo chamaeleo were found, with 592 control points remaining without chameleon observations. It was noticeable that the population density of Chamaeleo chamaeleon was highest in the fields furthest away from the A7 motorway. Only 24.3% of adult chameleons were discovered in the immediate vicinity of the motorway, while 62.2% were found in the areas furthest from the motorway. Accordingly, the two fields directly adjacent to the motorway also had the fewest juveniles. The chameleons therefore appear to be disturbed by the motorway and retreat from its vicinity. However, the availability of arthropods (i.e. potential food) was comparable in all five areas. Interestingly, it was also found that more chameleons were present in areas with fewer shrubs. This suggests that Chamaeleo chamaeleo tends to avoid habitats with very dense undergrowth.

The results of the study are consistent with those for other reptiles, which describe, among other things, the so-called road effect zone. This is the phenomenon whereby straight roads running over long distances lead to a large amount of unsuitable habitat, even if they ‘only’ have narrow verges that are avoided by the animals. The length of the road and the number of roads can still severely restrict or reduce the habitat of a species. This finding is new for the European chameleon and important for species conservation. The authors conclude that areas with highly frequented roads less than 500 to 675 metres away are unsuitable habitats for Chamaeleo chamaeleon.

Effects of habitat characteristics in an anthropized landscape on the spatial behavior and abundance of a common chameleon (Chamaeleo chameleon) population
M.A. Farfán, J. Duarte, D. Romero, L. Colorado-Pedrero, P. García-Quevedo, R. Arroyo-Morales, F. Dìaz-Ruiz
Conservation Science and Practice 2025: e70070.
DOI: 10.1111/csp2.70070
Free download of the article

Presentation in Bavaria about chameleons

Presentation in Bavaria about chameleons

by Alex Negro Haltungsberichte Reiseberichte Live lectures

Long-standing AG member Nicolá Lutzmann from Heidelberg will give an interesting lecture on chameleons on Saturday, 20 September 2025. In this lecture, he will report on adventurous chameleon observations in the wild, as well as on the species-appropriate keeping of these highly specialised lizards in terrariums. These fascinating reptiles are known for their unique ability to change colour, their independently movable eyes and their lightning-fast forked tongue, which they use to catch insects.

Dr. Nicolá Lutzmann Chameleons: Outdoor observations and keeping them in a terrarium [German]
DGHT regional group lower Bavaria
Restaurant Aurora
Klausenweg 15
84152 Mengkofen
Lecture begins at 8 p.m., dinner together from 6.30 p.m.

New data about Furcifer campani in Ankaratra (Madagascar)

New data about Furcifer campani in Ankaratra (Madagascar)

by Alex Negro Science

Two Madagascan biologists recently studied the current situation of the jewelled chameleon (Furcifer campani) in the Ankaratra reserve. Ankaratra is located around 80 km south of the capital Antananarivo in the central highlands, not far from the small town of Ambatolampy. The reserve extends over altitudes of 1601 to 2656 m and covers dense rainforest, pine forest and savannahs with areas similar to heathland. Average temperatures are 11.9°C in the dry season (July) and 17.9°C in the rainy season (January).

The study was conducted using a method known as distance sampling. This involves drawing three lines, each 50 metres long and 25 metres apart, at different locations within the study area. After a waiting period of 24 hours, the two biologists walked the transects at night with torches and searched for chameleons. The perch height and sex of the chameleons found were noted. In addition, an assessment was made as to whether or not the animal was in a severely destroyed habitat (= slash-and-burn in the last 4-5 years).

The results of the study show a population density of Furcifer campani in Ankaratra of 19.06 individuals per hectare in habitats with little destruction and 12.62 individuals per hectare in habitats with severe destruction. Approximately half of the transects were located in habitats severely destroyed by slash-and-burn practices. Furcifer campani was found at night at heights between 4 cm and 3 m above the ground. On average, the chameleons slept slightly higher up in the vegetation at 47 cm compared to 40 cm in undisturbed habitats.

The two authors identified two major threats to Furcifer campani in Ankaratra: firstly, slash-and-burn farming, which poses a double problem. Not only does slash-and-burn irretrievably destroy suitable habitat, but the authors also found Furcifer campani that had died from burn injuries during their study. The authors identified the pine forests within the protected area as the second major threat. Pine trees were planted there in many places for later logging. However, they are also spreading outside the area originally intended for them and encroaching on other habitats. Furcifer campani prefers to live in savannahs, which in Ankaratra consist mainly of Philippia and Helichrysum grasses, and cannot thrive in pine forests. There has been no significant removal of animals for international trade in recent years and this is therefore not considered an acute threat.

Habitat quality and roost preference of jewelled chameleon (Furcifer campani) in Ankaratra highlands, central Madagascar
Rodlis Raphali Andriantsimanarilafy, Joseph Christian Randrianantoandro
Scientific Reports in Life Sciences 6(3), 2025: 33-40.
DOI:  10.5281/zenodo.16895177
Free article download

Picture: Furcifer campani in Madagascar, photographed by Thorsten Negro

Presentation in Leipzig about Madagascar

Presentation in Leipzig about Madagascar

by Alex Negro Reiseberichte Live lectures

On Wednesday, 3 September 2025, Thomas Hofmann will give a lecture rich in images about Madagascar in Leipzig (Saxony). The island in the Indian Ocean is a mecca for travellers interested in herpetology. Over 90% of the reptiles and amphibians found here are endemic – they exist nowhere else in the world. Among the endemic species are not only a large number of chameleons, but also many other herpetological highlights.

Thomas Hofmann Excursions through the north-west, west and ‘Middle East’ of Madagascar [German]
DGHT Stadtgruppe Leipzig
Restaurant Neumann
Strelitzer Straße 1
04157 Leipzig
Start of the event 7 p.m.

Presentation in Hamburg about Madagascar’s chameleons

Presentation in Hamburg about Madagascar’s chameleons

by Alex Negro Reiseberichte Live lectures

Lars Dwinger, member of the Chameleon Working Group, will give a detailed presentation on his trip to Madagascar this year on Saturday, 6 September 2025.

Together with the Tanalahorizon team and herpetologist Dr. Frank Glaw, he set off for north-eastern Madagascar. The team spent a whole week in the mountain rainforest of Marojejy to find, document and – thanks to permits – also collect undescribed chameleon species. A fantastic experience with numerous unexpected highlights! Following this sweat-inducing but, as far as chameleons are concerned, very successful expedition, the team headed to the lowland rainforest of Bobangira, right on the Indian Ocean. This part of the island is practically unexplored due to its poor accessibility – as the lecture clearly illustrates – and is home to a large number of snakes and other undescribed chameleons. But it’s not just chameleon lovers who will get their money’s worth at this lecture; other reptiles and amphibians are also shown in numerous fantastic photos.

Lars Dwinger The summit of Marojejy and the gallery forest of Bobangira – two virtually unexplored herping paradises [German]
50th Jubilee and VDA regional day
Ganztagszentrum
Am Markt 2
22941 Bargteheide
Presentation begins at 2 p.m.

Picture: Palleon lolontany, photographed by Markus Bartels on this very trip

New locality record of Calumma vencesi (Madagascar)

New locality record of Calumma vencesi (Madagascar)

by Alex Negro Verbreitung Science

Calumma vencesi occurs in northern Madagascar and has so far been found in Betaolana, Besariaka and Tsararano. A Madagascan research team has now discovered the species in another rainforest: Sorata. Sorata is part of the COMATSA corridor, which mainly consists of the Marojejy, Anjanaharibe Sud and Tsaratanana rainforests. Sorata, on the other hand, is located slightly further north towards Vohémar. The rainforest is currently managed by the WWF in collaboration with the local association Ambodimandresy Miaro ny Ala (AMA).

The scientists randomly distributed 14 transects in the rainforest, each consisting of three parallel lines of 50 m. Then, at night, they searched for sleeping chameleons along the transects with flashlights. The frequency of the species per 100 m was calculated, the plants used were documented and the sleeping height was measured.

A total of eight Calumma vencesi were found. They slept at an average branch height of 1.43 m, mostly on leaves, with a few individuals on branches. Five chameleons were found sleeping vertically, three more horizontally. Seven of the eight Calumma vencesi slept with their heads up, only one upside down.

The occurrence of only 0.38 individuals per 100 m is surprisingly low and even falls below that of chameleon species classified as critically endangered, such as Calumma tarzan. Until now, Calumma vencesi had only been found below 1000 m, but the study area in Sorata was at an average altitude of 1326 m. Calumma vencesi occurs in Sorata in the same distribution area as Brookesia nana, which makes the need to protect this rainforest even more urgent. The forest is threatened by slash-and-burn farming, illegal logging, grazing livestock and vanilla plantations.

 A new locality for the endangered Vence’s Chamaeleon, Calumma vencesi Andreone et al., 2001, from Sorata Forest, northeastern Madagascar
Jeanneney Rabearivony, Andriatsitohaina Ranaivojaona, Moussaïna Jao, Achille P. Raselimanana
Herpetology Notes 18, 2025: 817-820.
DOI: not available
Free article download

Photo: Calumma vencesi, photographed by Asméralie William, from the aforementioned publication

Ultrasound of the urogenital tract in chameleons

Ultrasound of the urogenital tract in chameleons

by Alex Negro Tiermedizin Science

In recent years, initial studies have been conducted on imaging in the diagnosis of diseases specifically in chameleons. A further study by veterinarians at the University of Leipzig (Germany) now presents additional comparative data on the urogenital tract of chameleons.

They examined the kidneys, bladder and reproductive organs of 42 lizards brought to the university hospital by private owners using ultrasound. Among the patients were seven Chamaeleo calyptratus and five Furcifer pardalis. Of these 12 chameleons, six were male and six were female. All organs were measured, described and sample images were saved.

Unfortunately, the sex organs of none of the female chameleons could be assessed for the study, as they were either pathologically altered or had already been removed during previous surgery. The most suitable location for coupling the ultrasound probe to the kidneys of the chameleons was found to be approximately one centimetre in front of the hip. The postpelvic portion of the kidneys was always smaller than the prepelvic portion. The kidneys of all male chameleons showed heterogeneous stripes, while the kidneys of the females were always homogeneous. This striping is probably due to sexual segments in the kidneys of males. The kidney tissue was isoechogenic to muscle tissue and more hypoechoic than adipose tissue. The testes of the male chameleons were located in the posterior third of the coelomic cavity, directly below the spine and in front of the kidneys. The right testicle was slightly further forward than the left. The capsule was hyperechoic in all males, while the testicular structure was always homogeneous. The study also provides average measurements of the kidneys and testicles of Yemen and panther chameleons.

The data largely correspond to the data already compiled by Aßmann in 2015 on ultrasound of the urogenital tract of chameleons. Only the kidney length differed significantly (longer) from previous studies.

Comparative sonographic studies of the urogenital tract of lizards
Nils B. Klützow, Volker Schmidt
Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound 2025, 66:e70075
DOI: 10.1111/vru.70075
Free download of the article

Gene evolution in chameleon teeth

Gene evolution in chameleon teeth

by Alex Negro Science

Chameleons have acrodont teeth, which means that their teeth are directly attached to the bone. Mammals, on the other hand, have so-called alveoli in which the teeth are seated. Scientists from Michigan (USA) have now investigated the genetic evolutionary development of tooth structures by comparing mammals with acrodont reptiles.

To do this, they compared the genomes of 24 acrodont reptiles and 12 mammal species. The acrodont reptiles included the chameleon species Furcifer pardalis, Trioceros harennae and Chamaeleo calyptratus, as well as chameleons of the genera Chamaeleo, Bradypodion and Trioceros that were not identified at the species level. The genes for amino acids, from which certain proteins in tooth enamel are built, were compared using various calculations and analyses.

The results showed that the loss of tooth replacement in acrodont reptiles did indeed lead to changes in the genes responsible for tooth enamel formation.

Reduction of tooth replacement disproportionately affects the evolution of enamel matrix proteins
John Abramyan, Gengxin Li, Hannah Khansa
Journal of Molecular Evolution 93, 2025: 494-510.
DOI: 10.1007/s00239-025-10258-4
Kostenloser Download des Artikels

Photo: Specimen of a panther chameleon skull with acrodont teeth, photographed by Alex Negro