Calumma nasutum

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Calumma nasutum
Big nose chameleon (15284676704).jpg
Male
Nose-horned chameleon (Calumma nasutum) female Andasibe.jpg
Female in Andasibe VOIMMA reserve
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Calumma
Species:
C. nasutum
Binomial name
Calumma nasutum
(Duméril & Bibron, 1836)
Calumma nasutum distribution.png

Calumma nasutum, the Madagascar pimple-nose chameleon, is a small species of chameleon found in Madagascar. [1] [2] The taxonomic identity of the species is currently uncertain and in need of revision, and this revision is likely to result in several newly described species. [3] Several different data sets indicate that C. nasutum is a complex of several species. [4]

Contents

Taxonomy

Calumma nasutum belongs to the so-called "C. nasutum species group" within the genus Calumma. This group is a phenetic one, and has been reconstructed by some studies as being polyphyletic, [5] but the species are unified by their small size and possession of a soft dermal appendage at the front of the nose ("rostral appendage"). The group currently consists of C. nasutum, C. fallax , C. gallus , C. vohibola, C. vatosoa , C. radamanus , C. peyrierasi , C. boettgeri , and C. linotum . [3] [6]

Calumma nasutum. Calumma nasutum 01.jpg
Calumma nasutum.

Description

The big-nosed chameleon, which is one of the smallest arboreal chameleons usually with a total body length of 11 cm. [7] It gets its name from the huge, paddle-like appendage that protrudes from the nasal region. It is thought that males have a larger, more square-shaped version of this flexible appendage, which is employed for identifying possible mates. [8] The more noticeable casque, or bony head crest, is another feature that sets male big-nosed chameleons apart. Both sexes typically have brown, reddish-brown, tan, or light green skin. [8] Females that are not interested in mating quickly acquire a stunning display of whitish-blue to turquoise dots on the sides of the nasal appendage and on top of the head. This big-nosed species has characteristics with other chameleons, such as a prehensile tail, fused toes, turret-like eyes, and an incredibly long tongue. [9]

Appearance

The small nose-horned chameleon has a sharply pointed snout and a flexible, scale-free body covered in smooth hair. The colouration of the chameleon is generally dull, ranging from grey to brown or dull green, with dark vertical crossbars along the flanks. A white lateral band is present in some specimens. [8] There may be yellow or blue elements, and the legs are greenish.The broad color scheme that goes from green to brown, with the darker hues being more prominent on men. Women and younger individuals have more subdued colors. Notable characteristics are absent from the wing, tail, or horn. [9] This species is distinguished in particular by its distinct nasal appendage, which grows forward in adults. [10]

Conservation

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) lists the big-nosed chameleon in Appendix II, meaning that any international trade in this species that does take place needs to be closely monitored. [7] The government of Madagascar and other national and international conservation organizations are striving to preserve the exceptional biodiversity of this amazing island, but as of right now, no additional known conservation measures are in place exclusively for the big-nosed chameleon. [7] However Since 80% of the native forest in Madagascar have been destroyed some conservation measures have been put in place due to the habitat loss brought on by invasive species, climate change, and deforestation. [7]

Habitat

The big-nosed chameleon inhabits primary forest, forest edge and secondary forest where it is found in low vegetation and prefer thin trees, shrubs and bushes, but also thick lianas in the dense rainforest, generally one to two meters above the ground. Only very rarely they are found in open terrain, they prefer dense foliage and deep rainforest. [7]

Life span

The life span for the Calumma nasutum chameleon is up to 5–7 years if they are healthy and not facing predation or habitat destruction. [10]

Behavior

The nose-horned chameleon is mostly an arboreal and solitary species. This species is primarily nocturnal, searching for food and mating at night. It uses its long tongue to catch prey making it an efficient way. [10] When finding mates they have a distinct difference between male and female which is the size of their nose bumps, females tend to have a smaller bump while the males have a larger one. The remarkable defense strategy of the nose-horned chameleon is its ability to change color which not all chameleons can do, which helps it blend in with the surrounding flora and increases its chances of survival. [10] Chameleons are generally solitary and move about on slender branches and twigs, gripping with their fused toes. The prehensile tail provides an additional 'hand' on this precarious walkway as they scan the surrounding area with their independently mobile eyes for small insect prey. [10]

Sleeping behaviors

When sleeping or resting, the big-nosed chameleon is said to position itself head downwards as it clings to a narrow twig or vine. [11]

Breeding behaviors

C. natsutum reproduce by sexual reproduction, it has been observed that female big-nosed chameleons kept in captivity lay multiple batches of two to six eggs annually. These eggs are incubated at a temperature of roughly 23 degrees Celsius for approximately 90 days. [11]

Diet

The main source of food for the nose-horned chameleon is tiny invertebrates, especially insects. It uses a clever sit-and-wait tactic to ambush victims like spiders, crickets, and roaches. [11]

Major threats

This species is impacted by the destruction and loss of humid forests brought about by slash-and-burn agriculture, and its resulting fire damage may cause localized declines in population density. [7] Despite having a wide range, the big-nosed chameleon's low densities in some locations suggest that some populations may be vulnerable to challenges, such as habitat degradation that affects many areas of Madagascar. [1]

Captivity

The international pet trade is not seen to be a threat to the big-nosed chameleon, unlike many other chameleon species, while some reports suggest that the trade in this species is gradually expanding. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Uroplatus</i> Genus of lizards

Uroplatus is a genus of geckos, commonly referred to as leaf-tail geckos or flat-tailed geckos, which are endemic to Madagascar and its coastal islands, such as Nosy Be. They are nocturnal, insectivorous lizards found exclusively in primary and secondary forest.

<i>Calumma</i> Genus of lizards

Calumma is a genus of chameleons, highly adapted and specialised lizards, in the family Chamaeleonidae. The genus is endemic to the island of Madagascar. One species, formerly known as Calumma tigris, was transferred to the genus Archaius in 2010, upon the discovery of its closer relation to Rieppeleon—one of several genera referred to collectively as "leaf" or "pygmy" chameleons—rather than to Calumma. The earliest known fossil of the genus is of Calumma benovskyi, from early Miocene Kenya, showing that the genus likely originated on mainland East Africa. The genus includes one of the heaviest and longest chameleon species, the Parson's chameleon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parson's chameleon</span> Species of lizard

Parson's chameleon is a species of chameleon in the family Chamaeleonidae that is endemic to eastern and northern Madagascar. It is found from lowlands to an altitude of 1,195 m (3,920 ft) above sea level and mainly inhabits humid primary forest, but can also occur in disturbed habitats with trees. For a chameleon, it is very large, long-lived and slow-reproducing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malagasy giant chameleon</span> Species of reptile

The Malagasy giant chameleon or Oustalet's chameleon is a large species of chameleon which is native to entire Madagascar, but also has been introduced near Nairobi in Kenya and in Miami-Dade County in the United States. It occurs in a wide range of habitats, even among degraded vegetation within villages, but is relatively rare in the interior of primary forest.

<i>Brookesia minima</i> Species of reptile

Brookesia minima,, is a diminutive chameleon that was regarded as the smallest lizard of the Chamaeleonidae until a smaller species, Brookesia nana, was described in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hooded chameleon</span> Species of lizard

The hooded chameleon is a Vulnerable species of chameleon endemic to north-east Madagascar; its geological type locality is Madagascar. It can be found in humid forests over an area of 17,432 km2 (6,731 sq mi) between 400 and 720 m above mean sea level.

<i>Calumma fallax</i> Species of lizard

Calumma fallax, the deceptive chameleon or short-nosed deceptive chameleon is a species of chameleon endemic to eastern Madagascar, where its type locality is the Ikongo forest. It was first described by François Mocquard in 1900 as Chamaeleon fallax, and it was first recognized as Calumma fallax in 1986. It is a member of the Chamaeleoninae nominotypical subfamily of chameleons, and is believed to be found over an area of 2,057 km2 (794 sq mi), although the population is unknown.

<i>Calumma linotum</i> Species of lizard

Calumma linotum, commonly known as the blue-nosed chameleon, is a chameleon species endemic to northern Madagascar, and common in the forests of Nosy Be.

<i>Calumma tarzan</i> Species of chameleon endemic to Madagascar

Calumma tarzan, also known commonly as the Tarzan chameleon or Tarzan's chameleon, is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to the Alaotra-Mangoro region in Madagascar.

<i>Calumma amber</i> Species of lizard

Calumma amber, commonly known as the Amber Mountain chameleon, is a species of chameleons endemic to Antsiranana Province, Madagascar. The species was first observed in 1989 and was first described in 2006, and can only be found in the northernmost portion of the northern Diana Region of Madagascar, on and around Montagne d'Amber National Park. C. amber was originally considered to be a population of C. brevicorne.

<i>Calumma crypticum</i> Species of lizard

Calumma crypticum, commonly known as the cryptic chameleon or blue-legged chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in eastern Madagascar.

<i>Calumma brevicorne</i> Species of lizard

Calumma brevicorne, the short-horned chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to Madagascar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bizarre-nosed chameleon</span> Species of lizard

The bizarre-nosed chameleon is a species of chameleon endemic to Madagascar. Its scientific name was named after the Malagasy word hafahafa, which means "bizarre" or "strange".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vences's chameleon</span> Species of lizard

Vences's chameleon is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Calumma andringitraense</i> Species of lizard

Calumma andringitraense is a species of chameleon endemic to Madagascar. It was originally considered a subspecies of Calumma gastrotaenia, the Perinet chameleon.

<i>Calumma boettgeri</i> Species of lizard

Calumma boettgeri is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Calumma glawi</i> Species of lizard

Calumma glawi is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Calumma guibei</i> Species of lizard

Calumma guibei, also known commonly as Guibé's chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Calumma guillaumeti</i> Species of lizard

Calumma guillaumeti is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Calumma benovskyi</i> Extinct species of chameleon

Calumma benovskyi is an extinct species of chameleon of the Calumma genus. While species of this genus are only found on Madagascar today, C. benovskyi was discovered in the Miocene sediments of Kenya. This indicates that the genus and even chameleons as a whole did not originate on Madagascar, as often held previously, but on continental Africa. This matches with several prior studies that favor an African origin of the group both based on phylogenetic results and the ocean currents present between Africa and Madagascar during much of the Paleogene and Neogene. Additionally, since C. benovskyi was found to be a rather derived member of its genus, this would necessitate a much greater, as of yet unknown diversity of chameleons from the Oligocene and Miocene of Africa.

References

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