Voeltzkow's chameleon

Voeltzkow’s chameleon (Furcifer voeltzkowi) is a species of chameleon that is endemic to Madagascar. The species was described by Oskar Boettger in 1893, from an adult male specimen collected by A. Voeltzkow.[2]

Voeltzkow's chameleon
Photograph of specimens collected by Voeltzkow, published in 1913
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Furcifer
Species:
F. voeltzkowi
Binomial name
Furcifer voeltzkowi
(Boettger, 1893)[1]

In 2018, it was rediscovered, having last been seen in 1893.[3][4][5] Females were found for the first time, and were found to display particularly colourful patterns during pregnancy, when encountering males or when stressed.[6]

Its close relative Labord's chameleon exhibits an annual life cycle with an adult lifespan of only a few months spending most of its life as an egg, reaching sexual maturity two months after hatching, laying eggs, and dying soon after.[7] A similar lifecycle is suspected for Voeltzkow's chameleon, which would explain why the Voeltzkow’s chameleon had avoided being rediscovered for so long.

Its habitat is considered to be fragmented, likely qualifying for endangered status on the IUCN Red List.[8]

The specific name is in honour of German biologist Alfred Voeltzkow.

References
  1. Voeltzkow, Alfred (1913). Reise in Ostafrika in den Jahren 1903-1905. Bild 3 Heft 4-5. Stuttgart. p. 306.
  2. Uetz, Peter; Hallermann, Jakob. "Furcifer voeltzkowi (BOETTGER, 1893)". The Reptile Database. reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  3. "Chameleon last seen a century ago rediscovered in Madagascar". The Guardian. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  4. "Voeltzkow's Chameleon". Global Wildlife Conservation. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  5. Marina Sentís; Yiyin Chang; Mark D. Scherz; David Prötzel; Frank Glaw (24 September 2018). "Rising from the ashes: resurrection of the Malagasy chameleons Furcifer monoceras and F. voeltzkowi (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae), based on micro-CT scans and external morphology". Zootaxa. 4483 (3): 549–566. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.4483.3.7. ISSN 1175-5326. PMID 30313781. Wikidata Q57492536.
  6. "Chameleon last seen a century ago rediscovered in Madagascar". The Guardian. Associated Press. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  7. envision_demo. "FOUND: Rediscovery of Lost Chameleon Reveals Reptile's (Spectacular) True Colors". Global Wildlife Conservation. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  8. Glaw, F., D. Prötzel, F. Eckhardt, N. A. Raharinoro, R. N. Ravelojaona, T. Glaw, K. Glaw, J. Forster & M. Vences Rediscovery, conservation status and genetic relationships of the Malagasy chameleon Furcifer voeltzkowi. SALAMANDRA 56(4): 342–354 pp.
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