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Chameleon
Chameleons or chamaeleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015. The members of this family are best known for their distinct range of colors, being capable of shifting to different hues and degrees of brightness. The large number of species in the family exhibit considerable variability in their capacity to change color. For some, it is more of a shift of brightness (shades of brown); for others, a plethora of color-combinations (reds, yellows, greens, blues) can be seen. Chameleons are distinguished by their zygodactylous feet, their prehensile tail, their laterally compressed bodies, their head casques, their projectile tongues, their swaying gait, and crests or horns on their brow and snout. Chameleons' eyes are independently mobile, and because of this there are two separate, individual images that the brain is analyzing of the chameleon’s environment. When hunting prey, they ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Furcifer
''Furcifer'' is a genus of chameleons whose member species are mostly endemic to Madagascar, but ''F. cephalolepis'' and ''F. polleni'' are endemic to the Comoros. Additionally, ''F. pardalis'' has been introduced to Réunion and Mauritius, while ''F. oustaleti'' has been introduced to near Nairobi in Kenya. Taxonomy The generic name () is derived from the Latin root meaning "forked" and refers to the shape of the animal's feet. The genus contains 24 species. Glaw F et al. (2009)A distinctive new species of chameleon of the genus ''Furcifer'' (Squamata: Chameleonidae) from the Montagne d'Ambre rainforest of northern Madagascar.''Zootaxa'' 2269: 32-42. Species The following species are recognized as being valid."''Furcifer'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia although some lizards are more closely related to these two excluded groups than they are to other lizards. Lizards range in size from chameleons and geckos a few centimeters long to the 3-meter-long Komodo dragon. Most lizards are quadrupedal, running with a strong side-to-side motion. Some lineages (known as "legless lizards"), have secondarily lost their legs, and have long snake-like bodies. Some such as the forest-dwelling ''Draco'' lizards are able to glide. They are often territorial, the males fighting off other males and signalling, often with bright colours, to attract mates and to intimidate rivals. Lizards are mainly carnivorous, often being sit-and-wait predators; many smaller species eat insects, while the Komodo eats mammals a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bradypodion
''Bradypodion'' (meaning "slow-footed" in Greek) is one of six genera of chameleons within the "true" or "typical" chameleons (Family Chamaeleonidae). They are native to southern Africa, and are sometimes collectively called South African dwarf chameleons. Some other small chameleons from eastern and central Africa are occasionally placed herein, but this is probably in error and not followed here. See also Systematics below and ''Kinyongia'' and ''Nadzikambia''. __TOC__ Species 20 species are currently recognized: Undescribed species * Emerald dwarf chameleon, ''Bradypodion'' sp. (Emerald) * ''Bradypodion'' sp. (Groendal) * ''Bradypodion'' sp. (Grootvadersbosch) * ''Bradypodion'' sp. (Jagersbos) Systematics Delimitation of ''Bradypodion'' has been controversial for some time. Most species seem readily distinguishable by morphological characteristics, but for some time the genus was used as a wastebin taxon for smaller chameleons from sub-Saharan Africa with plesiomorphi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trioceros
''Trioceros'' is a genus of lizards in the family Chamaeleonidae. ''Trioceros'' was considered a subgenus of the genus ''Chamaeleo'' until 2009, when it was elevated to full genus level. Species and subspecies The following species and subspecies are recognized as being valid. ''Nota bene'': In the above list, a binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ... or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than ''Trioceros''. Footnotes References * (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . * (2009). "A re-appraisal of the systematics of the African genus ''Chamaeleo'' (Reptilia: Chamaeleonidae)". ''Zootaxa'' 2079: ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chamaeleo
''Chamaeleo'' is a genus of chameleons in the family Chamaeleonidae. Most species of the genus ''Chamaeleo'' are found in sub-Saharan Africa, but a few species are also present in northern Africa, southern Europe, and southern Asia east to India and Sri Lanka. Description Species in the genus ''Chamaeleo'' are slow moving, with independently movable eyes, the ability to change skin colouration, a long tongue, usually a prehensile tail, and special leg adaptations for grasping vegetation. Males are generally larger and more colorful than females. Almost all species have a maximum snout-vent length (SVL) between . Behavior The vast majority of ''Chamaeleo'' species are arboreal and typically found in trees or bushes, but a few species (notably the Namaqua Chameleon) are partially or largely terrestrial. Reproduction The genus ''Chamaeleo'' includes only oviparous species. In captivity With few exceptions, the chameleons most commonly seen in captivity are all members of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chamaeleoninae
Chamaeleoninae is the nominotypical subfamily of chameleons (family Chamaeleonidae). The Family Chamaeleonidae was divided into two subfamilies, Brookesiinae and Chamaeleoninae, by Klaver and Böhme in 1986. Since its erection in 1986, however, the validity of this subfamily designation has been the subject of much debate, although most phylogenetic studies support the notion that the pygmy chameleons of the subfamily Brookesiinae are not a monophyletic group. While some authorities have previously preferred to use the subfamilial classification on the basis of the absence of evidence principal, these authorities later abandoned this subfamilial division, no longer recognizing any subfamilies with the family Chamaeleonidae. In 2015, however, Glaw reworked the subfamilial division by placing only the genera ''Brookesia'' and ''Palleon'' within the Brookesiinae subfamily, with all other genera being placed in Chamaeleoninae. Classification The ten previously recognised genera in th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brookesiinae
The Family Chamaeleonidae was divided into two subfamilies, Brookesiinae and Chamaeleoninae, by Klaver and Böhme in 1986. Under this classification, Brookesiinae included the genera ''Brookesia'' and ''Rhampholeon'', as well as the genera later split off from them (''Palleon'' and ''Rieppeleon''). The Brookesiinae are small, often brown in colour, and occur in central Africa and Madagascar. They have terrestrial habits, or may be found in the lower levels of shrubs. Since its erection in 1986, however, the validity of this subfamily designation has been the subject of much debate, although most phylogenetic studies support the notion that the pygmy chameleons of the subfamily Brookesiinae are not a monophyletic group. While some authorities have previously preferred to use the subfamilial classification on the basis of the absence of evidence principal, these authorities later abandoned this subfamilial division, no longer recognizing any subfamilies with the family Chamaeleonida ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zygodactyl
In biology, dactyly is the arrangement of digits (fingers and toes) on the hands, feet, or sometimes wings of a tetrapod animal. It comes from the Greek word δακτυλος (''dáktylos'') = "finger". Sometimes the ending "-dactylia" is used. The derived adjectives end with "-dactyl" or "-dactylous". As a normal feature Pentadactyly Pentadactyly (from Greek "five") is the condition of having five digits on each limb. It is traditionally believed that all living tetrapods are descended from an ancestor with a pentadactyl limb, although many species have now lost or transformed some or all of their digits by the process of evolution. However, this viewpoint was challenged by Stephen Jay Gould in his 1991 essay "Eight (Or Fewer) Little Piggies", where he pointed out polydactyly in early tetrapods and described the specializations of digit reduction. Despite the individual variations listed below, the relationship is to the original five-digit model. In reptiles, the limbs ar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa across the Mozambique Channel. At Madagascar is the world's List of island countries, second-largest island country, after Indonesia. The nation is home to around 30 million inhabitants and consists of the island of Geography of Madagascar, Madagascar (the List of islands by area, fourth-largest island in the world), along with numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from the Indian subcontinent around 90 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90% of wildlife of Madagascar, its wildlife is endemic. Human settlement of Madagascar occurred during or befo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rhampholeon
''Rhampholeon'' is a genus of small chameleons, commonly known as pygmy chameleons or African leaf chameleons, found in central East Africa (extending slightly into adjacent DR Congo). They are found in forests, woodlands, thickets, and savanna, and most species are restricted to highlands. They are brown, grey, or green, and typically seen at low levels in bushes, or on the ground among grasses or leaf litter. Species The following 19 species are recognized as being valid."''Rhampholeon'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. *''Rhampholeon acuminatus'' – Nguru pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon beraduccii'' – Beraducci’s pygmy chameleon, Mahenge pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon boulengeri'' – Boulenger's pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon bruessoworum'' – Mount Inago pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon chapmanorum'' – Chapmans's pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon gorongosae'' – Mount Gorongosa pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon hattinghi'' *''Rhampholeon marshall ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rieppeleon
''Rieppeleon'' is a genus of small, typically brown chameleons found in forests and savannas in central East Africa (extending slightly into adjacent DR Congo). They are found at low levels in bushes, or on the ground among grass or leaf litter. Etymology The genus ''Rieppeleon'' was named after Swiss-born American herpetologist Olivier Rieppel (born 1951).Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Genus ''Rieppeleon'', p. 221; ''Rieppeleon kerstenii'', p. 140; ''Rhampholeon robecchii'', p. 223). The specific name, ''kerstenii'', is in honor of German chemist and geographer Otto Kersten (1839–1900). The subspecific name, ''robecchii'', is in honor of Italian geologist and explorer Luigi Robecchi Bricchetti (1855–1926). Taxonomy Until recently, the species in the genus ''Rieppeleon'' were commonly included in the genus ''Rhampholeon'' instead. Species and subsp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brookesia
''Brookesia'' is a genus of chameleons, endemic to Madagascar, that range from small to very small in size, and are known collectively as leaf chameleons (though this name also commonly is used for species in the genera ''Rieppeleon'' and ''Rhampholeon''). ''Brookesia'' includes species considered to be the world's smallest chameleons, and are also among the smallest reptiles. Members of the genus ''Brookesia'' are largely brown and most are essentially terrestrial. A significant percentage of the species in the genus were only identified to science within the last three decades, and a number of species that still have not received a scientific name are known to exist. Most inhabit very small ranges in areas that are difficult to access, and due to their small size and secretive nature, they have been relatively poorly studied compared to their larger relatives. ''Brookesia'' are abundant in low-disturbance riparian zones and low-disturbance rainforests. ''Brookesia'' are scar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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