Frugivory and temperature-regulated behaviour in the Knysna dwarf chameleon

Frugivory and temperature-regulated behaviour in the Knysna dwarf chameleon

by Alex Negro Beobachtungen Science

South African scientists have conducted an observational study into the behaviour of the Knysna dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion damaranum). The study was carried out in a park in George, in the Western Cape province. The park is mainly used by walkers, cyclists and dog owners for recreational purposes, meaning that the chameleons there are, to a certain extent, accustomed to people.

Six adult Bradypodion damaranum were found in the evening by torchlight and fitted with transmitters. The transmitters were attached to their flanks using tissue adhesive. During the day, one chameleon at a time was observed by a researcher for up to 4.5 hours, including those without transmitters. The chameleons fitted with transmitters were then located and the transmitters removed.

A total of 30 chameleons were observed, six of which were tagged and 24 untagged. As temperatures rose, peaking between 36 and 40°C around midday, a total of six Bradypodion damaranum were observed quickly retreating to shadier, lower-lying areas of the vegetation. Most of them turned noticeably paler than before. On another day, temperatures at sunrise were only 8°C. Several chameleons were observed moving very slowly towards sunny spots. Two were observed feeding at 12°C.

In addition, two Bradypodion damaranum were observed feeding on ripe berries from fruit bushes (Halleria lucida). Frugivory had not previously been recorded in this species. Another chameleon was observed consuming the flower of a Clutia pulchella. Overall, however, this appears to be a rare occurrence, as it was observed only a few times during 142 hours of observation.

Natural history observation of the Knsysna Dwarf Chameleon, Bradypodion damaranum (Boulenger, 1887): thermal extremes and feeding on flora
Krystal A. Tolley, Jody M. Barends, Wade K. Stanton-Jones, Graham J. Alexander
Herpetology Notes 19, 2026: 219-228.
DOI: not available
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Photo: A Bradypodion damaranum that has sought refuge from the rising temperatures on the trunk of a carmine-red bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus), from the publication mentioned

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