Horn growth

caroline?

Avid Member
Hi so im just curious is their any reason why some male jacksons horns grow in more crooked and some are very straight?
i'll add some pictures for example
(these are not my chameleons btw)
 

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One of the main reasons is genetics. Most Jackson's in the U.S. come from the introduced population in Hawaii, and the genetics of this population has diverged from that in Africa due to inbreeding and genetic bottleneck.
Bill Strand talks about it here: https://chameleonacademy.com/jacksons-chameleon-care/

Another reason could be from injury from either a bump/fall or fighting with others.

I think I've also read that nutrition might play a role as well when they're really young.
 
I would say mostly genetics with the occasional oops from the environment and nutrition. You can see the difference in horns on imported Jax Jax from before captivity to captivity. Some get notably thicker after import. I think there maybe a hormonal influence in males that have been in competition for females.
The inbreeding factor in Hawaiian xanths is a different thing entirely.
 
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