The chameleon we are talking about today is originally from Madagascar, the largest island in Africa. This land contains a capital diversity of species that, furthermore, we no longer find anywhere else in the world. The climate of this island is very different from one end to another, for example, in one part of it there is a humidity of 80% or more almost all year round and in others it does not reach more than 60%. In fact, within the same area we can experience different microclimates that will be ideal for one or another species.
True chameleons are the most found in Madagascar
In 1986 a study was carried out that classified the types of chameleons known on Earth into two families: the false and the true. Among the fake ones we find the Brookesia and Rhampholeon chameleons. Among the true ones we differentiate the genera Bradypodium, Calumma, Chamaleo and Furcifer. Within Madagascar we can find chameleons of both groups. If we focus on the real ones, the Calumma and Furcifer are the families that live on this huge island.
The Calumma, in turn, are divided into nine different copies:
- Calumma boettgeri
- Calumma brevicornis
- Calumma gastrotaenia
- Calumma globifer
- Calumma hilleniusi
- Calumma malthe
- Calumma nasuta
- Calumma parsonii
- Calumma tigers
For its part, within Furcifer it houses nine other species:
- Furcifer Campani. Its size does not exceed 13 centimeters and it has incredible colors. It lives in the Ankaratra Massif between 1800 and 2000 meters high. If you live with one of them, you must have it at a temperature of at least 14ºC and a maximum of 22ºC. Provide him with a place of calm where he rests at around 28ºC.
- Furcifer cephalolepis. Native to Moroni Island, part of the Comoros archipelago that lies east of Madagascar. The males are about 16 centimeters but the females do not reach 12. If you have one at home, the terrarium should have a lot of plants and humidity. During the day they need a temperature of 28 degrees or higher although if it reaches 33 at night it will be higher than 22 degrees.
- Furcifer Labordi. This chameleon lives on the eastern coast of Madagascar. As usually happens in this species, the male will be larger than the female.
- Furcifer lateralis. This chameleon is the one that best adapts to any temperature on the island because we can find it in any of the cardinal points of the island, with the exception of the north and northwest. Height for him is not a problem because he lives at sea level and up to 2000 meters above sea level.
- Furcifer pardalis. This chameleon can exceed 50 cm in length. He lives in Madagascar but also in the Mauritius and Reunion islands. Their classification has been wrong for a long time because the different colors they offer have led to error. This chameleon adapts to any type of ecosystem, for example, forests or fields. They have also been found free in the United States after escaping from breeding centers.
- Furcifer oustaleti. This is the largest of all the chameleons that we are going to talk about, it can reach 70 cm. We can find the same areas that the furcifer pardali inhabits. Although he likes tall trees. In captivity you need a very large terrarium with a temperature of about 24 to 28 degrees and a fairly high humidity.
- Furcifer petteri. This specimen likes to live in the fruit trees of northern Madagascar, specifically in the part of Joffreville. It is not more than 14 cm long. In captivity it needs to live at a temperature of 24 to 28 degrees with a resting zone with more degrees. The ideal humidity for this chameleon is 70%.
- Furcifer polleni. If you know this species you can easily differentiate the males from the females because they measure about 20 cm and they are slightly less than 15. It does not live exactly on the island of Madagascar but in Mayotte, also in the Comoros archipelago. Like most of his peers, he prefers to live in solitude. When it is in captivity, the temperature that we must put is between 27 and 30 degrees and a humidity of 70 to 90%.
- Furcifer verrucosus. This subtype has very large specimens, the males are 57 cm long. and females 35 cm. It lives in any type of climate on the island although we do not find it in the north and northeast. It prefers clear areas where it can sunbathe to those where lush forests prevail. In captivity we need a large tank at a temperature between 23 and 27ºC. that it has good ventilation and always with a corner where the sun’s rays fall so that you can rest.
