Seychelles tiger chameleon: Difference between revisions
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{{Taxobox |
{{Taxobox |
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| image = Calumma tigris-2.jpg |
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| image_width = 300px |
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| image_caption = Seychelles Tiger Chameleon |
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| name = Seychelles Tiger Chameleon |
| name = Seychelles Tiger Chameleon |
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| status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1 |
| status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1 |
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==Endangered status== |
==Endangered status== |
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It is listed as endangered on the [[IUCN Red List]] with its distribution limited to 45km. A 2006 survey estimated the remaining global population to be just under 2,000 individuals. |
It is listed as endangered on the [[IUCN Red List]]<ref name=IUCNweb>{{cite web|title=IUCN Red List (July, 2006)|url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/|work=IUCN Red List (July, 2006)}}</ref> as well as on Appendix II of CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)<ref name=CITESweb>{{cite web|title=CITES (July, 2006)|url=http://www.cites.org/}}</ref>, with its distribution limited to 45km. A 2006 survey estimated the remaining global population to be just under 2,000 individuals. |
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==Description== |
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With a length of just 16 centimetres, this species is relatively small for a chameleon<ref name=terrainspira>{{cite web|title=Terra Inspira (September, 2006)|url=http://www.terrainspira.ch/berichte/chamaeleon/calumma_tigris.html}}</ref><ref name=calumnaarten>{{cite web|title=Calumma Arten (September, 2006)|url=http://www.chamaeleons.com/index.php?mode=calumma&site=calummatigris}}</ref>. Body colour varies from inconspicuous light-grey to a bold yellow-orange, or even green or dark brown, usually with scattered black spots and a pale grey chin and throat<ref name=terrainspira />. One of the tiger chameleon’s most distinctive features, however, is the pointed projection on its chin, which can be up to 3 millimetres long and sits amongst a comb of smaller, spiky outgrowths that border the underside of the chin<ref name=terrainspira /><ref name=calumnaarten />. |
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==Habitat and Distribution== |
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The tiger chameleon is endemic to the Seychelles, occurring only on the islands of Mahé, Silhouette and Praslin<ref name=IUCNweb />. Being an arboreal species, it is found in primary tropical forest, secondary forest where there is high plant diversity, and upland rural gardens, from sea level to 550 metres<ref name=IUCNweb />. |
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==Behaviour and Breeding== |
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After a short warming up phase in the morning, this chameleon goes in search of insects and other small animals on which to feed<ref name=terrainspira />. Like all chameleons, this species hunts by firing its elongated sticky tongue at prey with incredible speed. The tongue is tipped in a deadly suction pad capable of ensnaring prey that an ordinary reptile would never hope to hold<ref name=terrainspira /><ref name=coldnews>{{cite journal|last=Lasher|first=A.|title=Chameleons disclose talent for weightlifting: hunting other lizards: changing color in 10 seconds is not their only trick.|journal=The Cold Blooded News|year=2001|month=July|volume=28|url=http://webspinners.com/coloherp/cb-news/Vol-28/cbn-0106/Chameleons.html}}</ref> . |
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Reproduction on the island of Mahé is associated with introduced pineapple plants, in which the tiger chameleon lays its eggs. These plants are not used on Silhouette or Praslin, and the natural nesting sites remain unknown, although the endemic Pandanus and palms are thought to be used<ref name = IUCNweb />. In captivity, clutches contain between five and twelve eggs<ref name=terrainspira />. |
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==Threats and conservation== |
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As an island endemic with a restricted range of just three small islands, and a population thought to number only 2,000 individuals, the tiger chameleon is particularly vulnerable to changes within its habitat<ref name=sif />. On the islands of Mahé and Praslin in particular it is threatened by habitat degradation caused by introduced alien plants, such as cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)<ref name=IUCNweb /><ref name=sif>{{cite web|title=Seychelles Islands Foundation (December, 2008)|url=http://www.sif.sc/index.php?langue=eng&rub=32}}</ref>. |
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The chameleon and its habitat are protected within the Morne Seychelles (Mahé) and Praslin National Parks<ref name=IUCNweb />. Alien plant control on Praslin<ref name=sif /> and habitat restoration programmes on Silhouette are being undertaken to help contain threats to this species<ref name=natureprotection>{{cite web|title=The Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles (December, 2008)|url=http://www.islandbiodiversity.com/npts.htm}}</ref>. The main population occurs on Silhouette, where it has been suggested that forested areas containing populations should be given legal protection by being included in a new protected area<ref name=IUCNweb />. |
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==References== |
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{{ARKive attribute}} |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{commons|Calumma tigris|<br>Seychelles tiger chameleon <br>(''Calumma tigris'')}} |
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[http://members.aol.com/jstgerlach/herps.htm Research and conservation of Seychelles reptiles and amphibians] |
*[http://members.aol.com/jstgerlach/herps.htm Research and conservation of Seychelles reptiles and amphibians] |
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*{{ARKive|tiger-chameleon|archaius-tigris}} |
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{{chameleon-stub}} |
{{chameleon-stub}} |
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Revision as of 10:56, 11 October 2011
| Seychelles Tiger Chameleon | |
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| Seychelles Tiger Chameleon | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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| Suborder: | |
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| Genus: | |
| Species: | C. tigris
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| Binomial name | |
| Calumma tigris | |
The Seychelles tiger chameleon (Calumma tigris) is an endangered species of chameleon, found only on the Seychelles islands of Mahé, Silhouette and Praslin.
Endangered status
It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List[1] as well as on Appendix II of CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)[2], with its distribution limited to 45km. A 2006 survey estimated the remaining global population to be just under 2,000 individuals.
Description
With a length of just 16 centimetres, this species is relatively small for a chameleon[3][4]. Body colour varies from inconspicuous light-grey to a bold yellow-orange, or even green or dark brown, usually with scattered black spots and a pale grey chin and throat[3]. One of the tiger chameleon’s most distinctive features, however, is the pointed projection on its chin, which can be up to 3 millimetres long and sits amongst a comb of smaller, spiky outgrowths that border the underside of the chin[3][4].
Habitat and Distribution
The tiger chameleon is endemic to the Seychelles, occurring only on the islands of Mahé, Silhouette and Praslin[1]. Being an arboreal species, it is found in primary tropical forest, secondary forest where there is high plant diversity, and upland rural gardens, from sea level to 550 metres[1].
Behaviour and Breeding
After a short warming up phase in the morning, this chameleon goes in search of insects and other small animals on which to feed[3]. Like all chameleons, this species hunts by firing its elongated sticky tongue at prey with incredible speed. The tongue is tipped in a deadly suction pad capable of ensnaring prey that an ordinary reptile would never hope to hold[3][5] .
Reproduction on the island of Mahé is associated with introduced pineapple plants, in which the tiger chameleon lays its eggs. These plants are not used on Silhouette or Praslin, and the natural nesting sites remain unknown, although the endemic Pandanus and palms are thought to be used[1]. In captivity, clutches contain between five and twelve eggs[3].
Threats and conservation
As an island endemic with a restricted range of just three small islands, and a population thought to number only 2,000 individuals, the tiger chameleon is particularly vulnerable to changes within its habitat[6]. On the islands of Mahé and Praslin in particular it is threatened by habitat degradation caused by introduced alien plants, such as cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)[1][6].
The chameleon and its habitat are protected within the Morne Seychelles (Mahé) and Praslin National Parks[1]. Alien plant control on Praslin[6] and habitat restoration programmes on Silhouette are being undertaken to help contain threats to this species[7]. The main population occurs on Silhouette, where it has been suggested that forested areas containing populations should be given legal protection by being included in a new protected area[1].
References
This article incorporates text from the ARKive fact-file "Seychelles tiger chameleon" under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License and the GFDL.
- ^ a b c d e f g "IUCN Red List (July, 2006)". IUCN Red List (July, 2006).
- ^ "CITES (July, 2006)".
- ^ a b c d e f "Terra Inspira (September, 2006)".
- ^ a b "Calumma Arten (September, 2006)".
- ^ Lasher, A. (2001). "Chameleons disclose talent for weightlifting: hunting other lizards: changing color in 10 seconds is not their only trick". The Cold Blooded News. 28.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b c "Seychelles Islands Foundation (December, 2008)".
- ^ "The Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles (December, 2008)".
External links
Seychelles tiger chameleon
(Calumma tigris).
- Research and conservation of Seychelles reptiles and amphibians
- Seychelles tiger chameleon media from ARKive
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