Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · 11d

A new geographic distribution in the latest issue of African Herp News details new records of Rieppeleon brachyurus in Mozambique, including the first record south of the Zambezi River.
African Herp News is available to HAA members or publicly after ~1 yr: africanherpetology.org/african-herp...

1 3

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · 11d

A new note details egg-laying in Chamaeleo dilepis in Kenya, documenting the process from excavation through departure, noting female color changes & local superstitions about finding a digging chameleon.
African Herp News is available after ~1 year: africanherpetology.org/african-herp...

1 2

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · 21d

A reevaluation of chameleon foraging mode using movement- & attack-based indices. Chameleons spent most of the day in stationary positions & fed more when stationary than when moving, suggesting they should be considered ambush foragers rather than "cruise foragers".
academic.oup.com/cz/advance-a...

3 4

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 28

While similar mechanistically, ballistic tongues of chameleons & salamanders were each assembled via a different sequence of innovations, highlighting how biomechanical modularity, rather than exceptional materials, underlies this vertebrate ballistic innovation.

2 3

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 28

Chameleons & salamanders evolved a sliding-based linear actuator to launch the tongue via muscular squeezing of a tapered skeletal rod, contrasting with tendon-driven pulling mechanisms common in most musculoskeletal systems, allowing acceleration along a straight path.
www.cell.com/current-biol...

1 8 12

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 23

A study on the embryonic development of the gonads in chameleons finds that the gonadal primordia appear quickly in development compared to somatic tissue development & the process of gonadal sex differentiation is consistent with other vertebrates
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

1

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 22

A new article documents a new locality for the Endangered Calumma vencesi in the Sorata Forest of NE Madagascar. Their presence supports the need to conserve this valuable mountain forest, which is also home to the likely Critically Endangered Brookesia nana.
www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/v...

1 1

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 18

A new article provides reference sonographic data on the urogenital tracts of veiled and panther chameleons to compare their kidneys, testes, and ovaries to other lizards, although data on the ovaries of female chameleons could not be collected.
Article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 15

Distance from highways & lower proportions of ground covered by shrubs are associated with higher favorability for the presence of C. chamaeleon. In Spain this species is largely restricted to highly anthropized coastal areas with high road density... conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

2

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 13

Chameleons & agamid lizards diverge in tooth proteins involved in strengthening enamel structure. Chameleons are more divergent in enamel matrix proteins which may be associated with a more complete transition to monophyodont dentition than agamids.
Article: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

1

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 13

A new publication reports on a novel host record of a tick species that commonly infests tortoises and some lizards feeding on a Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon recticrista) in Turkey with attachment to the margin of the eye turret.
Article: www.researchgate.net/profile/Goek...

1

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 6

Half of respondents reported seeing flashlights shining at night & some reported trespassing & confrontational interactions with individuals repeatedly entering their yards to collect chameleons, highlighting the importance of recognizing social impacts of species introductions.

1 1

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 6

A study on societal impacts of introduced populations of F. pardalis in Florida found that residents knew of but expressed low concern about the chameleons' presence, expressing more concern for their safety given the activities of private collectors.
digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcont...

1 1 1

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 6

A new study finds that C. dilepis change their brightness to better match black backgrounds & change color to match some hues, especially yellow, although not matching background patterns.
Article: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...

1

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Aug 6

Some hopeful news on the Critically Endangered Furcifer belalandaensis, which was recently discovered in some less disturbed habitat than it has previously been known from, possibly providing an opportunity to better protect the species!
Article: greenauve.org/new-hope-for...

1 2

Reposted by IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group

Anderson Lab @andersonlabusd.bsky.social · Jul 26

A clutch of Bradypodion cf. melanocephalum “Hilton” born in the lab today! Immediately getting some metabolic rate data from them to follow through ontogeny! Have also been getting metabolic rate data from the mother for the last 3 months and will continue as she recovers from birth as well!

3 3

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · Jul 23

Study on convergent evolution & ecological speciation in Bradypodion finds differences in functional traits related to grip can be explained by the perch diameters used, whereas ornamentation differs in different habitats but is convergent in similar habitats.
Link: zse.pensoft.net/article/1519...

2

Reposted by IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group

Anderson Lab @andersonlabusd.bsky.social · May 31

Two female Trioceros jacksonii, which appear to be T. j. xantholophus with rostral horns, from 2,130m elevation on the western/southwestern slopes of Mount Kenya.

2 3

Reposted by IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group

Anderson Lab @andersonlabusd.bsky.social · May 31

Trioceros hoehnelii from 2,130m elevation on the western/southwestern slopes of Mount Kenya!

2 3

Reposted by IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group

Anderson Lab @andersonlabusd.bsky.social · May 31

Some Trioceros hoehnelii from the Naro Moru route on Mount Kenya!

2 3

Reposted by IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group

Anderson Lab @andersonlabusd.bsky.social · May 27

High-casqued Chameleons (Trioceros hoehnelii)!

2 4

Reposted by IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group

Anderson Lab @andersonlabusd.bsky.social · May 27

Aberdares Montane Dwarf Chameleon (Trioceros kinangopensis)!

2 5

IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @iucnchameleons.bsky.social · May 9

Happy 2nd annual International Chameleon Day! May 9th is International Chameleon Day, which was launched in 2024 to highlight the remarkable diversity of chameleon species and shed light on the challenges they face in the wild!
#internationalchameleonday #chameleondaymay9 #chameleonconservation

1 2

Reposted by IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group

Anderson Lab @andersonlabusd.bsky.social · Apr 4

Further, we show that supercontracting muscle in chameleons may share common contractile and structural properties due to a common origin from occipital somites. royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... 6/6

2 3

Reposted by IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group

Anderson Lab @andersonlabusd.bsky.social · Apr 4

We propose this broadened length-tension relationship is achieved through sarcomere length non-uniformity with muscle fibers across the muscle belly at different starting lengths during contraction, resulting in some fibers shortening onto their force plateau while others shorten off it. 5/6

1 2 4