Essential Care of Chameleons E-Book

Philippe de Vosjoli

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 72

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

Chameleons are fascinating creatures-they have eyes capable of moving independently of one another, a projectile tongue that allows them to capture insects from a distance, and a prehensile tail that helps keep them stable when climbing trees and shrubs. The Essential Care of Chameleons is packed with everything you need to know on selecting, acclimating, housing, and feeding a chameleon. You'll also find a special section on caring for the more popular species, including tips on how to overcome problems with diseases and disorders. Whether you are just thinking about getting a chameleon or are an experienced breeder, this book offers the most up-to-date information on all your chameleon needs.

Leseprobe

Karla Austin, business operations manager

Jarad Krywicki, editor

Erin Kuechenmeister, production editor

Nick Clemente, special consultant

Design by Michael Vincent Capozzi

Cover design by Vicky Vaughn

All photos by Philippe de Vosjoli except where otherwise indicated

Rachel Rice, indexer

Cover photography by David Northcott

The photographs in this book are courtesy of: David Northcott, pp. 9, 33, 36, 53, 56; Chris Estep, courtesy of Reptile Haven, p. 38; Liddy Kammer, p. 49; © 2004 www.clipart.com, pp. 7, 13; and © 2004 www.photos.com, pp. 30, 55.

Copyright ©1992, 1998, 2004 by Advanced Vivarium Systems, Inc.™

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopy, recording or any information and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

LCCN: 96-183295

ISBN: 1-882770-61-7

eISBN: 978-1-62008-027-6

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CONTENTS

1: General Information

2: Selection and Acclimatization

3: Sexing and the Life Stages of a Chameleon

4: Housing

5: Water and Relative Humidity

6: Heating

7: Feeding

8: Breeding

9: Notes on Popular Species

10: Diseases and Disorders

CHAPTER 1

GENERAL INFORMATION

Chameleons are Old World lizards that hail from the family Chameleonidae. Half of the 135 species of chameleons hail from the island of Madagascar, while most others range throughout Africa; a few species are also found in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

The smallest chameleon is Brookesia minima, from Madagascar, which reaches a total length of an inch and a half as an adult, making it one of the smallest lizards in the world. The largest chameleons are Oustalet’s, Parson’s, and Meller’s chameleons, all of which can exceed 2 feet in total length; the world’s largest chameleon, the Oustalet’s, occasionally grows more than 30 inches.

Characteristics

The vast majority of chameleons have eyes capable of moving independently of one another, but this trait is not unique to chameleons. (The exceptions are Brookesines chameleons, which have limited ability for independent eye movement.) Their most unique feature is the fused prehensile digits of their hands and feet, which form pincer-like appendages; no other living lizards in the world have evolved this characteristic.

The small and live-bearing Tanzanian dwarf chameleon is hardy as long as it is kept in appropriate temperatures, and receives light supplementation (no more than once a week).

Also characteristic of chameleons is a helmet-like portion of the head defined by parietal and lateral crests, called a casque, after the French word for helmet. Chameleons’ casques evolved, in part, to accommodate shifts in facial structure caused by large, forward positioned eyes, and a shortening of the snout and the muscles required for eye movement. Some species have evolved large casques that may serve adaptive functions, such as thermoregulation (a means of controlling body temperature) or a secondary sexual characteristic. Research has yet to confirm the notion that some species large casques serve as a surface for water condensation, thereby giving them an additional water source.

Chameleons also have a prehensile tail, which helps keep them stable when climbing trees and shrubs, and allows them to anchor to surrounding branches. In most situations, it is strong enough to prevent the lizards from falling.

The other well-known feature of chameleons is their projectile tongue, which allows them to capture insects and other prey from a distance—in certain species, the tongue’s range can be more than twice the body length! Though other lizards use their tongue to capture prey, chameleons’ tongues are far more specialized for this task than those of other species.

Most chameleons have laterally flattened bodies. This allows them to move more freely among tree branches and shrubs, to thermoregulate more effectively in arboreal environments, and to better hide themselves among their surroundings.

Chameleons and the Law

All chameleons except members of the genera Brookesia and Rampholeon are listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), meaning that CITES permits are required if you wish to transport the animals between countries. In addition, several countries also protect chameleon species. Consult the pertinent wildlife regulatory agency before collecting, importing, or exporting any chameleon. In the United States, a number of states regulate the ownership of true chameleons, and Hawaii prohibits the importation of chameleons. Other states, such as Maine and Massachussets (these two states have some of the most peculiar amphibian and reptile laws in the nation), have permit requirements for the ownership of chameleons.

Longevity

Though many consider chameleons to be short-lived, the various species have a wide range of life histories and life expectancies. The following are longevity records of captive specimens from some of the popular chameleon species:

• Flap-necked chameleon (Chamealeo dilepis): Four years

• Veiled chameleon (C. calyptratus): Eight years for a male; Five and a half years for a female

• Fischer’s chameleon (Bradypodion fischeri): Three years from young adults; likely four to five years if raised from hatching

• Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis): Nine years for males; Five years for females

• Carpet chameleon (Fur. lateralis): Three years

• Parson’s chameleon (Calumma parsonii): Eight and a half years from large mature adults; likely ten years or more if raised from hatchlings

• Jackson’s chameleon (C. jacksonii): Nine years

• Brookesia stumpfi: Three years

• Armored chameleon (Bro. perarmata): Two years from adults; likely this species has a potential longevity of five years

Taxonomy

The taxonomic system proposed by Klaver and Bohme, which emphasized hemipenis and lung morphologies, is increasingly used by herpetologists and chameleon enthusiasts. Based on that system, Chameleonidae are divided into two subfamilies. The subfamily Brookesinae includes members of the genera Brookesia (from Madagascar) and Rampholeon (from Africa). The subfamily Chameleoninae includes the Malagasy genera Calumma (e.g., Parson’s chameleon) and Furcifer (e.g., panther chameleon); and the African genera Bradypodion (e.g., Fischer’s chameleon) and Chamaeleo (e.g., veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus). The latter genus also includes the subgenus Trioceros (e.g., Jackson’s chameleon).

If you are purchasing your first chameleon your best choice is one of the popular captive-bred species, such as veiled chameleon.

CHAPTER 2

SELECTION AND ACCLIMATIZATION

Before You Buy

Before purchasing a chameleon, first decide what species interests you. If you have no experience with chameleons, your best choice is one of the popular captive-bred beginner species, such as veiled and panther chameleons. Before deciding on a species, research the climatic conditions of your area; if you live in a hot, dry area, a species that requires high relative humidity will be costly to set up and may not be the best choice. If you live in a cool and wet area, then species that prefer a more moderate relative humidity may not be the best suited for your conditions.

A free-roaming Moroantsetera male panther chameleon in a pet store.

Next, consider how much space you want to dedicate to keeping a chameleon. Any medium or large species of chameleon will take up a significant portion of a room if kept indoors under optimal conditions. If you do not have enough space, rethink your choice. You also need to decide whether it is important for your chameleon to display a certain degree of responsiveness; some species are far more responsive than others. If the longevity of your pet is a concern, remember that males of many egg-laying chameleon species tend to be longer-lived in captivity than females. The best pet species for beginners are panther and veiled chameleons, particularly captive-bred males.

Captive-bred or Wild-caught?

As a general rule, captive-bred chameleons are a more dependable purchase than those that are wild-caught, because they are less likely to be parasitized or stressed. If you purchase them when young, you will also have a good estimate of their age.