i have questions about chameleons

[LBonawitz]

i'm doing an informative speech on chameleons in my public speaking class. i only have 5 minutes to spit out as much info as i can. but i wanted to include the year the first chameleon was discovered and the year the most recent one was found, then the number different types of chameleons and how many of those are endangered/threatened.



first year discovered:


most recently found : i found this websit "http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0104-tanzania_species.html" it says this one was found in 2006

how many species of chameleons: i counted all of the names on the "chameleon Species Database" on this wedsite (https://www.chameleonforums.com/species/index.php?view=table) and got 199.


How many are endangered or threatened:




thank you for any help you can give

 

[AJA]

Laura

Here is an old post that I did a way back, perhaps there are some tidbits in there for your speech.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/chameleon-statistics-24949/

 

[jannb]

i'm doing an informative speech on chameleons in my public speaking class. i only have 5 minutes to spit out as much info as i can. but i wanted to include the year the first chameleon was discovered and the year the most recent one was found, then the number different types of chameleons and how many of those are endangered/threatened.



first year discovered:


most recently found : i found this websit "http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0104-tanzania_species.html" it says this one was found in 2006

how many species of chameleons: i counted all of the names on the "chameleon Species Database" on this wedsite (https://www.chameleonforums.com/species/index.php?view=table) and got 199.


How many are endangered or threatened:




thank you for any help you can give

You need Chris!

 

[Chris Anderson]

The first chameleon species was described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus as "Lacerta chamaeleon" (and later changed to Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

The most recent species description to be published was for Bradypodion ngomeense by Colin Tilbury and Kristal Tolley. This description was published on Sept. 10, 2009. There have been a few other new species descriptions this year including Kinyongia asheorum and Kinyongia vanheygeni. At the moment, there are new species descriptions for a number of species in press (already approved and awaiting publication) and many more species descriptions are in prep.

As for how many species are currently recognized, the species database is not up to date (some of the taxa on it have been synonymized and others have been added). There are about 206 species and subspecies currently recognized.

The number of species that are considered Endangered is kind of an arbitrary number. There are quite a few species that are known from fewer then 10 specimens ever but none of them are listed as Endangered (at least not listed on the IUCN Red List or on CITES Appendix I). In addition, the chameleon listings on the IUCN Red List has not been updated in many years and the funding just does not exist to assess the standing of every species so their list is far from complete or accurate. Brookesia perarmata is listed on CITES Appendix I but is listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN while Bradypodion taeniabronchum is listed as "Critically Endangered", and Bd. setaroi and Calumma tigris are listed as "Endangered" on the IUCN yet they are all listed on CITES Appendix II.

Hope that helps.

Chris

 

[LBonawitz]

The first chameleon species was described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus as "Lacerta chamaeleon" (and later changed to Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

The most recent species description to be published was for Bradypodion ngomeense by Colin Tilbury and Kristal Tolley. This description was published on Sept. 10, 2009. There have been a few other new species descriptions this year including Kinyongia asheorum and Kinyongia vanheygeni. At the moment, there are new species descriptions for a number of species in press (already approved and awaiting publication) and many more species descriptions are in prep.

As for how many species are currently recognized, the species database is not up to date (some of the taxa on it have been synonymized and others have been added). There are about 206 species and subspecies currently recognized.

The number of species that are considered Endangered is kind of an arbitrary number. There are quite a few species that are known from fewer then 10 specimens ever but none of them are listed as Endangered (at least not listed on the IUCN Red List or on CITES Appendix I). In addition, the chameleon listings on the IUCN Red List has not been updated in many years and the funding just does not exist to assess the standing of every species so their list is far from complete or accurate. Brookesia perarmata is listed on CITES Appendix I but is listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN while Bradypodion taeniabronchum is listed as "Critically Endangered", and Bd. setaroi and Calumma tigris are listed as "Endangered" on the IUCN yet they are all listed on CITES Appendix II.

Hope that helps.

Chris

wow! thank you chris!

 

[nick barta]

Hey, I could do a fancy reply like that too, it just wouldn't have any true facts.....See you Friday morning at the Captive born reptile show!!

Nick