Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Xx_JoJo_xX · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:26 pm Post subject:

LOL! It was just a regular post! Laughing

I would like to know what distinguishes one cham type from another. Razz

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Jase · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject:

The Panther Chameleon Furcifer Pardalis comes from Madagascar. They are given the name of the place they originate, locale. For example, a Nosy Be Panther is from the island of Nosy Be just off the coast of Madagascar. The chams from specific places have developed different colourations due to only breeding with other local chams. eg a Nosy Be wont naturally breed with a Tamatave as Tamatave is on the other side of Madagascar and Nosy Be is an island.

There are some chams that are given names not relating to there locale eg. Picasso and Mafana. These designer chams are probably hybrids from mixing locales to make a differing appearance.

Correct if I'm wrong....
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A lil bit of Madagascar

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:26 pm Post subject:

Furcifer Pardalis is the Latin name for the commonly called Panther Chameleons that come from Madagascar, then the actual locality of where they come from in Madagascar is also given for example Panther Chameleon Tamatave comes from Tamatave in Madagascar, Panther Chameleon Ambilobe comes from Ambilobe and so forth.

The Chameleons from the various localities are all quite distinct and different from each other in terms of patternation and colours, but will also share some similarities as they are all variations of the same species. So for example many localities will have vertical banding's but the banding colour shape and size will vary. Undoubtedly though locales next to each other will see natural hybridisation of the locales occurring. So there may well be a blurring of the true distinct locales. In fact I would suggest that this is highly probable and more often the case than not.

To complicate matters further, I have seen many Nosy B panthers that are all completely different from each other but you can still tell they are Nosy B's. Ditto Ambilobes, Diego Suarez etc. The basics remain the same but there are variations on a theme.

In captivity certain traits that are desirable will be savoured and bred on. So you could for example hold up a stunning Red Bar CB Ambilobe against its WC counterpart and have two totally different looking chameleons, you could also say the same about two WC Red Bars held up against each other, lots of variation.

In some ways, some traits of the mafana are also similar to that of some Nosy B's, who knows perhaps some mixing at some point?

At the end of the day if you like a cham you like it. There will be purists who will insist upon so called pure locales but at the risk of sounding controversial my view is that perhaps what is meant by pure locales is those that have a greater commonality of traits form one locale, but I am not convinced about them being 100% pure to one locale Laughing

A little while ago someone posted up pics of a Nosy B that she was not happy with (not one of mine Laughing

) because it did not in her view look like a Nosy B, but it was a NB and a nice one at that. This was because she had seen a NB that had been bred to exhibit more pure blue on blue traits bought one and it didn't turn out like that. Now in the wild they are speckled with red and not necessarily pure blue, they can range from sea green to sky blue with red dots on and various shades of turquoise etc. So I guess what I am saying is if you like a cham like it for what it is not what you beleive it should be. Accepting that there will invariably be variations.

Yes Jo they can look the same, but aren't allways and there are differences. Laughing

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www.rickslivefood.co.uk

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:29 pm Post subject:

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:00 pm Post subject:

Its on this map somewhere if that helps
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www.rickslivefood.co.uk

aidan · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:41 pm Post subject:

man this conversation is escalating beyond my under standing if that makes sense lol
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2.4. beardies
1.1 fire n uce beardies
1.1.0 yemen chameleons
0.0.1 corns
0.0.2 crested geckos

redbelly · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:46 pm Post subject:

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject:

Hmmmmm I see your point but tend to think that even the islands at some point will have had other introduced locales to them.

I beleive Madagascar was adjoined physically to Africa at one point, could be wrong.

Overall yes the respective locales are just that, but even within the respective locales there is an awful lot of variation and I would not be surprised if some locales have hybridised with one another. Just a thought.
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www.rickslivefood.co.uk

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:57 pm Post subject:

Almost forgot yes it is Ampiskiana. You can claim a fruit fly or night out in Romford as your prize.

I know which I would chose and I have had both many a time. The fly has to be the best option. Laughing

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www.rickslivefood.co.uk

aidan · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:59 pm Post subject:

don't Dis romford man i live near there but Ur right chose the fly lol
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2.4. beardies
1.1 fire n uce beardies
1.1.0 yemen chameleons
0.0.1 corns
0.0.2 crested geckos