The Jeweled Chameleon Furcifer campani
By Noan Fesnoux
The jeweled chameleon, also known as the madagascar forest chameleon, is one of the more beautiful lizards in the world. Growing up to 14 cm, this lizard leads a diurnal (active during the day) lifestyle. They are insectivores, eating any insect which it can latch its tongue onto. This jeweled chameleon gets its name from the bright dots it has along its body. It also has three pale stripes that go along each side of the body.
Ecology of Jeweled Chameleon This animal lives in the grassy and shrubby savannahs that are between 1850 and 2300m in elevation. Eating insects, this little Chameleon grows up to 14 cm long. The jeweled chameleon lives alone, and does not like it when other chameleons come into its territory. It will fight off any other jeweled chameleons who come near it. To warn them, it will change colours quickly. This little lizard lays eggs like other lizards, and has a pretty short period to wait for them to hatch. The eggs usually take between 7 an 10 weeks to hatch.
Fun Facts:
Like all chameleons, the jeweled chameleon can change colour. It does not do it for camouflage though. It does it to show emotions and warn off predators The jeweled chameleon has a tongue that is about 1.5 times as long as its body Each eye on the chameleon can move on its own, something that few other animals can do The jeweled chameleon is collected for trade in pet shops. They are often taken from the wild.
Threat Level The jeweled chameleon is considered vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). The main reason for this is because the chameleon, like many animals on Madagascar, is losing habitat on a regular basis. Jeweled chameleons are also targeted for the pet trade, which provides an additional threat to their numbers.
One of many endemic species on Madagascar, the jeweled chameleon needs to be conserved through preventing habitat loss. Human activity disrupts their ecosystem, and since they are found nowhere else, once this ecosystem has been destroyed the jeweled chameleon will be considered extinct in the wild. Conservation is critical in preserving this animal's future.
References
http://www.reptipic.de/details.php?image_id=4530&sessionid=727a07071283e93c9ad7afaa0f20ddca http://travel.mongabay.com/madagascar/images/madagascar_0378.html http://www.chameleonforums.com/furcifer-campani-29790/ http://www.arkive.org