Scientists from Great Britain and Italy have now studied the chromosomes of different chameleon species. They examined the karyotype of a total of 83 different chameleon species. Among them were 57 Madagascan chameleon species, of which 32 karyotypes were described for the first time ever. For Calumma brevicorne, Calumma fallax, Calumma parsonii and Furcifer verrucosus, there were even several animals each available for examination. The scientists found out that presumably the fusion of chromosomes has reduced the total number of chromosomes in the course of evolution in chameleons. Presumably, it was mainly microchromosomes (particularly small chromosomes) that fused.
Microchromosome fusions underpin convergent evolution of chameleon karyotypes
Evolution, Juni 2023
DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad097
