What’s the deal, what climate do panthers actually prefer?

[jamest0o0]

I haven’t been up on all the latest chameleon stuff lately. It used to be that people imagined panthers being in rainforests. Turns out that’s somewhat more accurate with montane species. Then a lot of people who have visited Madagascar report them in dryish/warm conditions. I’ve also read that they are only in those areas due to deforestation and simply surviving, but that naturally they evolved in more lush/tropical climates.

So what’s the consensus among the naturalist keepers out there? What type of habitat do we think they were truly meant for?!

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

The life history I have seen in the readings say Furcifer pardalis is a forest-edge species (brush type/disturbed forest/recent growth in deforested areas) species. Plus that actually this species does well in habitats that are those habitats listed above in warm conditions, not hot or cool temperatures. The anomaly is that Furcfer pardalis actually prospers from deforestation as growth after area's have had "slash and burn" activity the regrowth is optimum Furcifer pardalis forest edge habitat.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[jamest0o0]

The life history I have seen in the readings say Furcifer pardalis is a forest-edge species (brush type/disturbed forest/recent growth in deforested areas) species. Plus that actually this species does well in habitats that are those habitats listed above in warm conditions, not hot or cool temperatures. The anomaly is that Furcfer pardalis actually prospers from deforestation as growth after area's have had "slash and burn" activity the regrowth is optimum Furcifer pardalis forest edge habitat.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

Gotcha Ty ! So probably open areas with shade to retreat into. My guess is they’re not super high up amongst dense growth. It makes sense, for whatever reason panthers have a ‘look at me’ vibe to them, from colors to personality. They also tend to explore territory the most, often hunting on the ground even.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Gotcha Ty ! So probably open areas with shade to retreat into. My guess is they’re not super high up amongst dense growth. It makes sense, for whatever reason panthers have a ‘look at me’ vibe to them, from colors to personality. They also tend to explore territory the most, often hunting on the ground even.

Not a problem.

Furcifer pardalis are not the same as most Calumma ssp.. I think the closest Calumma species with regards to life history is the Calumma brevicorne complex. They are mostly cool weather forest edge species. As far as closest life histories for Furcifer ssp. I would say Furcifer oustaleti. However the larger Furcifer oustaleti prefers hotter climates. The strange part about Furcifer oustaleti is they are listed as occuring in the cool weather habitats of Eastern and Central Madagascar. That is cool weather habitats for a hot weather species.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich