Rare Chameleon Spotted 100 Years After It Was First Discovered In Madagascar
The chameleon was originally discovered by German Botanist Alfred Voeltzkow. Researchers have revealed that they¡¯ve come across numerous living specimens of Voeltzkow¡¯s chameleon while conducting an expedition to the north-west of the African island.
Our planet is fighting several battles today -- whether it¡¯s with climate change, or pollution or deforestation or even extinction of creatures living on the planet, causing irreversible damage to the natural habitat of a particular area.
In the past couple of years, we¡¯ve come across several creatures that are on the verge of going extinct, and some that have even completely wiped off our planet due to human intervention.
AP
However, there are some creatures that are just too rare to find, due to their sheer low number or due to their presence far away from the human habitats. And now, researchers have found a rather rare species of chameleon that was last spotted nearly a century ago.
Report by AP reveals that this chameleon has been discovered once again, 100 years later in Madagascar. The chameleon was originally discovered by German Botanist Alfred Voeltzkow. Researchers have revealed that they¡¯ve come across numerous living specimens of Voeltzkow¡¯s chameleon while conducting an expedition to the north-west of the African island.
A study published in the journal Salamandra, a team including scientists from the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology has revealed that genetic analysis has revealed that the species is very close to Labord¡¯s chameleon.
What¡¯s actually astonishing is the lifespan of these colourful and beautiful creatures. According to researchers, both reptiles are only alive during the rainy season. They hatch eggs, grow rapidly, mate and eventually die all in a matter of months.
Researchers, for the first time, have discovered the female of the species which had never been documented before. They¡¯re known to showcase their colourful patterns when they¡¯re pregnant, or while they¡¯re trying to attract mates or at times when they¡¯re stressed or trying to save themselves from predators.
AP
According to Frank Glaw, the curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Zaporizhzhia State Medical University in Ukraine, these chameleons are essentially the mayflies among the vertebrae.
Scientists have also revealed that these chameleons are in danger as their habitat is under threat from deforestation too.
