Veiled chameleon

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Veiled chameleon
Veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus), ♂

Veiled chameleon ( Chamaeleo calyptratus ), ♂

Systematics
without rank: Toxicofera
without rank: Iguana (Iguania)
Family : Chameleons (Chamaeleonidae)
Subfamily : Real chameleons (Chamaeleoninae)
Genre : Chamaeleo
Type : Veiled chameleon
Scientific name
Chamaeleo calyptratus
Duméril & Bibron , 1851

The veiled chameleon ( Chamaeleo calyptratus ), with a maximum length of more than 60 centimeters, is one of the growing members of the Chamaeleonidae family and belongs within the genus Chamaeleo to the subgenus Chamaeleo , which is differentiated from the subgenus Triocerus .

distribution and habitat

Distribution area

The species inhabits an extensive and climatically heterogeneous range in the south of the Arabian Peninsula . In this area, different local forms, clearly differing in color and size, have developed, with the forms living in the north exceeding the southern forms in size and color. Their systematic position still needs clarification. You colonize z. T. quite different habitats. The animals are found both in the dry, vegetation-poor plateaus of Yemen and Saudi Arabia and in the vegetation-rich mountain slopes of South Yemen. Even in the tropical to subtropical climate of the province of Asir , which belongs to Saudi Arabia , with 2000 millimeters of annual precipitation the most humid and vegetation-rich area of ​​the Arabian Peninsula, there are veiled chameleons, represented here in the subspecies Chamaeleo calyptratus calcalifer .

features

Portrait of a male

Depending on their local origin, the males grow to be 35 to 60 centimeters long and the females 20 to 45 centimeters long. The adult animals wear a laterally flattened, pointed back, helmet- like parital comb on their head. This helmet is not only significantly larger in the males with a height of up to eight centimeters, but also much more conspicuous than that of the females. In addition, a characteristic heel spur forms on the heels of the hind legs, which in young males can be recognized as a bump soon after hatching . In the course of growth there is also a thickening of the tail area at the cloaca . The coloration of both sexes is primarily dependent on the mood and varies greatly. The color spectrum of their chromatophores includes green, brown, blue, white, black, yellow and orange, as well as many nuances. The basic coloring of the males is often dominated by green tones. Usually three, more rarely four or five vertical, wide, yellow, often thin brown-edged stripes can be seen on the flanks. These can be connected by horizontal darker (brown) spots. The females often show rather pale green to brown tones, often with irregular yellow spots. The body structure, especially the typical adaptations of the eyes, tongue, tail and legs, correspond to the structure typical of Chamaeleonidae.

Behavior and way of life

The animals live on acacias and euphorbias , but also stay on crops or on the ground. They usually spend the day at a height of one to three meters. At night they often climb to the ends of higher branches.

Territorial behavior and aggressiveness

female

The males are typical loners who defend their territory against every other male. When there is a conflict, they show a typical threatening drawing. The animals flatten their bodies and inflate the throat pouch. They nod their heads, make hissing noises with their mouths open, and roll their tails in and out. The body sways slowly back and forth and reveals the brightest colors. If this imposing behavior does not bring the desired effect, arguments can arise in the course of which the animals can seriously injure themselves. This happens especially when the inferior male lacks the opportunity to retreat. Males as early as four months old are aggressive towards one another. Females are more compatible with one another.

nutrition

Like all chameleons, veiled chameleons are primarily small animal eaters. Above all, a wide variety of insects are "shot" in the familiar chameleon manner with the tongue and a sticky thread of saliva. However, vertebrates up to the size of adolescent mice are not spurned either. In addition to the animal diet, vegetable food is consumed, especially in the form of succulent leaves, such as that of various Kalanchoe species. This plant-based food serves, among other things, to supplement the water balance, whereby water, which is usually found in the steppe-like habitats , is also drunk. It is usually licked off leaves as dew. Veiled chameleons need a lot of food in the first few months, as they grow extremely quickly during this period. For example, four-month-old males can in individual cases have grown to a length of 30 centimeters.

Reproduction

If a male meets a female, it flattens its body as much as possible, rocks back and forth, rolls its tail rhythmically up and down and shows a magnificent courtship dress . If the female is not ready to mate , it turns intensely dark and threatens the male with an open mouth. If the female does not withdraw, it can be seriously injured by the female, whereby it does not defend itself because it is blocked by a kind of bite inhibitor. In nature, the female is ready to mate once a year. This can then be recognized by a turquoise-blue color in the upper back area. The courting male overtakes the slowly fleeing female ready to mate and gives her violent thrusts in the flank. The pairings, which are repeated several times a day, last between 10 and 30 minutes and usually take place over a period of three to four days, in exceptional cases two weeks.

pregnant female

The subsequent pregnancy is indicated by the female by yellow and turquoise-blue spots on a dark green, almost black base color. After an average duration of 20 to 30 days, in exceptional cases up to 50 days, the female digs a tunnel-shaped cave, at the end of which the eggs, on average 30 to 40 (maximum up to 100), about 15 millimeters long and 10 millimeters wide, are deposited become. Then this cave is closed. Depending on the temperature (20 to 30 degrees Celsius) , the 55 to 75 millimeter long young hatch after five to nine months. At a constant 28 degrees Celsius, males and females hatch after about six months, while at an incubation temperature of constantly over 30 degrees Celsius, almost only males hatch. This is obviously a temperature-dependent sex education ( TAGA ). In addition, the young seem to coordinate or synchronize their hatching, since most of the animals in a clutch hatch on the same day. Clutches that are divided but incubated under the same conditions often hatch on completely different days.

Protection status

The veiled chameleon has the protection status of the Washington Convention on the Protection of Species II, Appendix B and is therefore notifiable to the terrarium keeper when purchased. In Switzerland you need a holding permit, which must be applied for at the Federal Veterinary Office (FVO), as well as a certificate of competence in terraristics. Upon acquisition, the seller is obliged to notify the buyer of this reporting obligation.

Terrarium keeping

Veiled chameleon kept in a terrarium while molting

The veiled chameleon is relatively easy to keep compared to its relatives. It was bred by Haikal in 1987 and has been in breeding ever since. The animals currently widespread in terrariums can no longer be assigned to any naturally occurring local form or subspecies and were created through their mixing.

The summer temperature in the terrarium, which is at least one-third cubic meter large for females and twice as large for males, should be between 26 and 28 degrees Celsius, with a temperature drop to 16 and 20 degrees Celsius at night, and 18-20 degrees in winter during the day Celsius and 12-14 degrees Celsius at night are recommended. A spot heater installed outside the terrarium is recommended for the creation of a warm zone with up to 40 degrees Celsius. In the winter period (two to three months) 20 to 25 degrees Celsius are appropriate; here it is usually sufficient to only operate the spotlight for one to two hours a day. The daily lighting duration must be adapted to that in the natural habitat of the veiled chameleon and should be 12 to 13 hours in summer and 10 to 11 hours in winter. Unfiltered (i.e. not entering through glass) sunlight or special terrarium fluorescent lamps should ensure sufficient UV radiation . A free attitude in the room (on a large plant or connected traffic light plants) is also possible, if the appropriate temperatures and lighting are provided. The chameleon's habitat should be sprayed twice a day. The feed should be enriched with vitamins (especially vitamin D 3 ) and minerals (especially calcium and phosphorus ). This is particularly true for growing young animals. The adult chameleons are only given animal feed every two to three days. This can prevent females from setting eggs too often or from getting into egg problems due to the development of unfertilized eggs . Females can often be kept together in spacious terrariums. Keeping them in pairs is rarely successful and should only be attempted when the females have reached the age of one year in order to prevent premature pregnancy. Pregnant females must be separated from the male and transferred to a terrarium with at least 30 centimeters deep, slightly damp substrate.

swell

  • Jan Meerman, Tineke Boomsma: Observations on Chamaeleo calyptratus calyptratus DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1851 in the Arab Republic of Yemen (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae). In: Salamandra. Vol. 23, No. 1, 1987, ISSN  0036-3375 , pp. 10-16.
  • Nicolá Lutzmann: Chamaeleo calyptratus - an unknown being! In: Terraria. No. 8, 2007, ISSN  1613-1398 , pp. 4-11.

further reading

  • Sascha Esser, Oliver Drewes: The Veiled Chameleon. Chamaeleo calyptratus. Vivaria-Verlag, Meckenheim 2015, ISBN 978-3-9813176-7-1 .
  • Ingo Kober, Andreas Ochsenbein: Veiled chameleon and panther chameleon. Care, breeding and way of life. 2nd Edition. Kirschner & Seufer, Rheinstetten 2009, ISBN 978-3-940376-01-5 .
  • Wolfgang Schmidt: Chamaeleo calyptratus. The veiled chameleon. 7th edition. Natur-und-Tier-Verlag, Münster 2010, ISBN 978-3-86659-087-8 .
  • Carsten Schneider: Offspring of the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus, DUMÉRIL & DUMÉRIL 1851). In: Elaphe. Vol. 14, No. 2, 2006, ISSN  0943-2485 , pp. 23-31.
  • Carsten Schneider: The Veiled Chameleon. Chamaeleo calyptratus. 2nd Edition. Natur-und-Tier-Verlag, Münster 2008, ISBN 978-3-9372-8585-6 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Günter Masurat: Multiplication of chameleons. Basics, instructions, experiences. , Herpeton, Offenbach 2005, ISBN 3-936180-06-7 .
  2. ^ A b Wolfgang Schmidt, Klaus Tamm, Erich Wallikewitz: Chameleons. Dragons of our time. 5th edition. Natur- und Tier-Verlag, Münster 2009, ISBN 978-3-931587-03-1 .
  3. ↑ a b c d e Ingo Kober: Keeping and propagation of the Yemen chameleon. In: DATZ . No. 12, 2001, pp. 14-19.
  4. ↑ a b c Manfred Rogner : Lizards. Keeping, care and breeding in the terrarium. Volume 1: geckos, pinnipeds, agamas, chameleons and iguanas. Ulmer, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-8001-7248-8 .
  5. ↑ Capture of a cricket by a chamaeleo calyptratus, Fabian Brau et al., February 19, 2014. npgpress: nphys3795 s2 YouTube video (1:01) June 14, 2016; Retrieved October 7, 2016. - High speed recording at 1000 frames / second. Slow motion extension 1:80 from 0.67 s to 53 s.

Web links

Commons : Veiled chameleon ( Chamaeleo calyptratus )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files