ChamEO collects data for chameleon keepers worldwide
ChamEO Retreat 2017 — Madagascar
Early in February 2017 Chameleon Education and Outreach, Inc. (ChamEO) coordinated a group trip to Madagascar for chameleon and wildlife enthusiasts. One of the primary reasons for this trip was to learn first hand what conditions chameleons were found living in the wild. I was especially curious about the UVB readings when we would find them.
Equipment brought by ChamEO for collecting data:
- Solarmeter 6.2 to measure UVB
- Digital Hygometers to measure ambient humidity and temperature
- Digital Soil Probe to get temperature and PH readings about 6 inches deep
- Rite In Rain notebook (an iPhone proved to be much better)
During our stay in Andasibe, we scheduled a 5–6 hour day hike through Parc Mitsinjo. By this time, a few of us were feeling exhausted so some didn’t go on the hike. A couple of hours into it, it seemed clear that we would not find very many chameleons — It felt a little too warm and we probably should have started out much earlier.
In the beginning of our hike, around 9:00 a.m., we found two Brookesia superciliaris in leaf litter along our path. The RH was 90%, ambient temperature was 72℉ degrees and the soil was 73℉ degrees and 6.5 PH. I took some UVB readings around this chameleon at 12 uW/cm2 (microwatts per square centimeter). The second Brookesia superciliaris was in 3–6 uW/cm2. The other data was identical and this second specimen was also found in leaf litter.
In the second half of our day hike, we saw two Calumma parsonii cristifer. I was a little apprehensive to collect data for these because I suspected they were placed near the ranger station for us to find. Sometimes when guides know what you’re searching for, they’ll find and bring chameleons into your path. But knowing how chameleons behave, how they move around and why, really helps to distinguish the natural occurrences from the artificial.
The first Calumma parsonii cristifer was a male juvenile. While we cannot be sure if he was placed in this location, I took readings: RH 80%, ambient temperature was 77℉, soil temperature 73℉. UVB reading was between 5 and 8. Just a few feet away in the direct sun, the RH was 73%, 81 degrees and the UVB reading was 375. He was probably no more than 15 feet away from this open area.
The second C. parsonii cristifer was an adult female. The RH was 78% and the temperature was 79℉. Soil temperature was 70℉. The sun coming through the canopy of this secondary rainforest produced UVB readings between 3–100 uW/cm2 . I couldn’t get close enough to the female to take readings from where she was perched. The time of day was not ideal for checking basking temps and UVB readings because it was close to noon. In my experience keeping chameleons in a greenhouse with natural sunlight exposure, I find that basking happens more often in the mornings and late afternoons.
With so many hours and so few chameleons, I asked one of our guides if it would be possible to come back and do this same walk at night. She agreed it would be more productive and said they could bring us back after dinner.
As we continued, I spoke with one of the guides about the sort of information we hoped to get from our trip. We needed to know what conditions chameleons were thriving in so we could try to replicate those conditions at home. We also needed information on their breeding habits and the data we could get from their offspring as they emerge from the ground. This is when our conversations got more interesting which lead to a project where ChamEO will be working with a research team to receive chameleon data. We concluded our hike and returned to the lodge to meet up with the rest of our group.
After dinner, and after a few hours of gentle rain, Cameron, Craig and I set out for a lengthy night walk. It was so much easier to spot the chameleons because their skin glows as light first hits them.
The first ones we found were along the road as we drove to meet our guides. All of them were C. brevicorne with most of them being females in pristine condition.
8:46 p.m. Calumma brevicorne, Adult female; 76℉; RH 84%; Soil 73℉, 6.5 PH
8:49 p.m. Calumma brevicorne, Adult female, 78℉, RH 84%; Soil 73℉, 6.5 PH
8:50 p.m. Calumma brevicorne, Juvenile female, 76℉, RH 84%; Soil 73℉, 6.5 PH
9:14 p.m. Calumma brevicorne, Adult, female, gravid, due to lay, 73℉, RH 82%; Soil 73℉, 6.5 PH
We arrived at the trailhead just before 9:30 and our guides were there waiting.
9:30 p.m. Calumma brevicorne, adult, male, very skittish, jumping; 77℉, RH 79%; Soil 72℉, 6.5 PH.
9:54 p.m. Calumma parsonii cristifer; juvenile (appx. 3 mos), female (per guide); asleep 2 meters from ground. 76℉, RH 78%; soil 72℉, 6.5 PH
10:01 pm Brookesia thieli; adult, male, 78℉, RH 90%; soil 72℉.
10:09 p.m. Calumma gastrotenia, adult female, gravid, 72℉, 85% RH, soil 72℉, PH 6.5.
10:18 p.m. Calumma nasutum, adult, female, gravid, 72℉, 88% RH, soil 72℉, PH 6.5.
10:26 p.m. Calumma nasutum, adult, female, gravid, 70℉, 90% RH, soil 72℉, PH 6.5.
10:33 pm Calumma nasutum pair, adult male and female, 70℉, 93% RH, soil 72℉, PH 6.5.
10:26 pm Calumma nasutum, adult female, gravid, 70℉, 90% RH, soil 72℉, PH 6.5.
10:42 pm Calumma parsonii cristifer. Baby, (guide said it was female), 73℉, 89% RH, soil 72℉, PH 6.5.
11:03 pm Calumma parsonii cristifer, baby, 75℉, sleeping 6 meters high, 79% RH, soil 72℉, PH 6.5
11:09 pm Brookesia supercilias, adult male, 75℉, sleeping 2 meters high, 89% RH, soil 71℉, PH 6.5
11:14 pm Calumma parsonii cristifer, sub-adult female, 72℉, sleeping 2 meters high, 88% RH, soil 71℉, PH 6.5
11:16 pm Calumma parsonii cristifer, sub-adult male, 72℉, sleeping 2 meters high, 88% RH, soil 71℉, PH 6.5
11:32 p.m. Calumma brevicorne, sub-adult female, 73℉, sleeping 4 meters high, 83% RH, soil 72℉, PH 6.5
11:47 Calumma brevicorne, neonate, male, 71℉ sleeping 2 meters high, 88% RH, soil 72℉, PH 6.5
11:57 Calumma brevicorne, Subadult, Male, 71℉, sleeping 2 meters high, 93% RH, soil 72℉, PH 6.5.
12:11 Calumma parsonii, juvenile, shedding, 71℉, sleeping 2 meters high, 93% RH, soil 72℉, PH 6.5
The night hike was very successful in many ways. We found several chameleons, different species and all in very good condition. But we also discussed with our guides how we could work together to collect data and share it with others in the chameleon keeping community. Our research team will keep track of soil temperatures on clutches laid, track their progress, document predatory activity, etc. In exchange for the information, we will be sending money to help the research team and their families. Life is very different than what most of us in the chameleon keeping community are accustomed to. A little money goes a long way to helping these people get most things we often take for granted.
Before leaving Andasibe, we met again with the guides to give them the Solarmeter 6.2 that was donated to ChamEO years ago. We use the UVB meter on a regular basis to help people improve their chameleon habitats.
If you are in a position to help us with this project, your donation would go towards equipment, supplies and the well-being of three families. You can make your donation through PayPal or by using a credit card. As you may already know, ChamEO is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Please visit www.chameo.org to make a pledge towards ChamEO’s Chameleon Research Project.
