Where do they store fat
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Zen Reptiles
Avid Member
From RodneyVet @ http://www.captivebredreptileforums...chameleon-anatomy-warning-graphic-images.html
That big white thing is a fat pad. You can tell the 'fatness' of your chameleon though from the head and cheeks being full and plump looking.
next image:. The left body wall (a) has been reflected to show the internal organs. The liver (b) is shown. the lungs (c) lie above the liver. The lungs are delicate structures and are not simply sacs as in other lizards (eg iguanas). In chameleons the lungs extend quite far back when inflated into finger like projections. At surgery care must be taken to avoid damaging these finger projections. There are also large fat pads (d) present which act as energy stores for this reptile. The spleen (e) is visible in front of the abnormal looking kidney (g). (f) shows the stomach. (h) shows the intestinal mass and the back border of the heart (i) is just visible
That big white thing is a fat pad. You can tell the 'fatness' of your chameleon though from the head and cheeks being full and plump looking.
marco
Member
Wow great post Zen Reptiles. I knew you could tell from the head and the cheeks, but have never seen a picture of where else the fat is located. Interesting!
Zen Reptiles
Avid Member
I didn't know either until I did a necropsy about a month ago. I was like 'What the heck is this thing?'
So I had to look it up myself, so I knew what to do a search for.
I don't know how big or how small it can get though, or how to tell by looking externally at it if it is a healthy size?
I know some of my females are too young to produce eggs, but they look gravid. I would assume it is just a big fat pad though lol.
So I had to look it up myself, so I knew what to do a search for.
I don't know how big or how small it can get though, or how to tell by looking externally at it if it is a healthy size?
I know some of my females are too young to produce eggs, but they look gravid. I would assume it is just a big fat pad though lol.
raphael14
Established Member
Very educative post.
fluxlizard
Avid Member
If you are just trying to assess the weight of your chameleon without opening him up- look for fat on the top of the head and along the spine. Really thin chameleons will appear sunken in on top of the head behind the eyes (veileds the sides of the casque). The vertebrate will also stand out down the spine. Fat ones the opposite- top of the head behind the eyes or sides of the casque will bulge out.
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Thezillaman21
Avid Member
This made me very sad. I get the purpose but still.
Miss Lily
Chameleon Enthusiast
It was that very picture that gave me an inkling that my dear old Tommy had a problem with his liver. That informative photo proved very useful to me. If I hadn't seen that then I wouldn't have asked the vet to take xrays and Tommy may still be with me but in a lot of discomfort. I personally thanked RodneyVet on that forum for publishing that photo.
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
Yep, they store it in the head pads and the torso. My panther is pretty round, and it's from being over-weight. He's been on a diet for a while but he still looks a little rotund.
I've seen other fat chameleons that had really thick legs as well. So I think the fat ones will gain weight just like people, all over.
I've seen other fat chameleons that had really thick legs as well. So I think the fat ones will gain weight just like people, all over.
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