Panther chameleon
| Panther chameleon | ||||||||||||
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Panther chameleon ( Furcifer pardalis ) ♂ from Reunion |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Furcifer pardalis | ||||||||||||
| ( Cuvier , 1829) |
The panther chameleon ( Furcifer pardalis ) is a large species of chameleon found in the northern and northeastern coastal lowlands of the island of Madagascar .
features
Males grow to 55 cm long on Madagascar and 44 cm long on Réunion , females stay smaller. Along their backs, the animals have a sloping crest made of large, closely spaced, spiky scales. The same scales are found on the dewlap. Clear stripes (lateral stripes) can be seen along the side of the body, which contrast with the color of the body.
The color depends on the respective distribution areas. The males on the northern tip of Madagascar are particularly colorful. The females there are green with red markings. On Nosy Bé, the males are light green with white, gray, red or light blue stripes, the females are dirty yellow, gray, pink or purple. On Nosy Boraha, the panther chameleons are more gray with white stripes.
Occurrence
The panther chameleon is found in the north and on the east coast of Madagascar, as well as on nearby islands such as Nosy Bé and Sainte Marie . Also in the south near Tolagnaro , as well as Mauritius and Réunion . Panther chameleons always live near the coast, in hot and humid climates in bushes, on trees and in undergrowth. Many also live near human settlements, on the edges of fields and in gardens.
Reproduction
The male begins courtship by taking on a light color, making nodding movements with his head and thereby approaching the female. If the female is not ready to mate , it fends off the male by threatening with its mouth open. The pairing process itself takes about ten minutes. The readiness to mate takes about three days. The gestation lasts about 31-45 days.
A few days before laying the eggs, the female starts looking for an egg-laying place. Once it has found a suitable one, it digs a small cave and lays 12–46 eggs. The entrance to the cave is then closed again. The young hatch after 159–323 days.
Reunion Island females
Reunion Island females
Adolescent panther chameleon molting
literature
- 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 .
further reading
- Philip-Sebastian Gehring, Thomas Althaus: "Panther chameleons: local forms, way of life, distribution" 1st edition. Natur-und-Tier-Verlag, Münster 2017, ISBN 978-3866593077
- Ingo Kober, Andreas Ochsenbein: Veiled chameleon and panther chameleon. Care, breeding and way of life. 2nd Edition. Kirschner & Seufer, Rheinstetten 2009, ISBN 978-3-9403-7601-5 .
- Rolf Müller, Nicolá Lutzmann, Ulrike Walbröl: Furcifer pardalis. The panther chameleon. 3. Edition. Natur-und-Tier-Verlag, Münster 2011, ISBN 978-3-9315-8792-5 .
- Carsten Schneider: The panther chameleon. Furcifer pardalis . Kleintierverlag, Biebertal 2011, ISBN 978-3-9811212-5-4 .
- David Hellendrung: The panther chameleon : Furcifer pardalis. 1st edition. Natur-und-Tier-Verlag, Münster 2013, ISBN 978-3-8665-9230-8 .
Web links
- Furcifer pardalis in The Reptile Database
- Furcifer pardalis inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: Jenkins, RKB, Andreone, F., Andriamazava, A., Anjeriniaina, M., Brady, L., Glaw, F., Griffiths, RA, Rabibisoa, N., Rakotomalala, D., Randrianantoandro, JC, Randrianiriana, J., Randrianizahana, H., Ratsoavina, F. & Robsomanitrandrasana, E., 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2013.