BIHAREAN BIOLOGIST 12 (2): 116-117 ©Biharean Biologist, Oradea, Romania, 2018 Article No.: e172304 http://biozoojournals.ro/bihbiol/index.html
Notes on the reproduction of Mediterranean chameleon, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (L., 1758) from Southwestern Anatolia, Turkey
Oğuzkan CUMHURİYET*, Yusuf BAYRAKCI, Dinçer AYAZ and Kerim ÇİÇEK
Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Zoology Section, TR-35100 Bornova, Izmir-TURKEY *Corresponding author, O. Cumhuriyet, E-mail: [email protected]
Received: 08. February 2017 / Accepted: 03. May 2017 / Available online: 22. May 2017 / Printed: December 2018
Abstract. Here, we report a reproduction observation of Chamaeleo chameleon from Güllük, (Milas, Muğla) Turkey. During our fieldwork on 20 September 2013, we captured a female chameleon, brought it to the laboratory and kept it in a terrarium for a brief period. The chameleon (SVL= 153.4 mm, total length, TL=288.6 mm) suddenly died on 30 October 2013. We dissected the specimen due to check the cause of death and we found 32 eggs in body cavity. We concluded the individual died from dystocia. The phenomenon is the firstly recorded from Anatolia.
Key words: Breeding, Captivity, Dystocia, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, Anatolia.
The Mediterranean chameleon, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (L., dystocia generally have larger body size and live between 1 1758) distributes to southern Europe, northern Africa, and – 60 days in captivity (Cuadrado et al. 2002). Besides, this southwestern Asia from sea level up to 1850 m a.s.l. (Vogrin phenomenon is common in oviparous reptile species, like et al. 2012). The species has a distribution area extending snakes, turtles and lizards (Frye 1991, Denardo 1996). As a from Izmir to Birecik along the Aegean and Mediterranean result of observation, our individual may have died from region in Anatolia (Sindaco et al. 2000, Baran et al. 1998, malnutrition but our captivity conditions and the foods we 2013). The Mediterranean chameleon is a terrestrial, diurnal give are less likely to be. species and listed as LC category in the IUCN Red List. The Mediterranean chameleons lay a single clutch per year of species is locally threatened by habitat loss through urbani- 4 – 40 eggs (Blasco et al. 1985, Cuadrado & Loman 1999, zation and the tourism facilities, agricultural intensification, Diaz-Paniagua et al. 2002). In south Spain, Diaz-Paniagua et predation by domestic animals, roads mortality and pet al. (2002) reported that mean egg size was 96.6 mm (75 mm – trade (Vogrin et al. 2012). 130 mm) from 84 females in 1995; and 117 mm (97 mm – 144 Dystocia is the difficulty in oviposition due to internal or mm) from 50 females in 1996. The authors determined the external factors (e.g., environmental, pathological factors) clutch size range of 4– 21 in 1995, and of 7 – 40 in 1996. Di- (Rivera 2008). There are numerous factors that may predis- maki et al. (2005) also reported that the species lays 4-31 eggs pose females to dystocia, including stress, poor nutritional (mean: 16) and mean eggs size for C. chamaeleon was 15.32 x status, and the lack of a proper nesting site (Stahl 2005). 9.78 mm. In conclusion, our results are in agreement with Many reptilian species will produce infertile eggs in captiv- other studies on breeding ecology of C. chamaeleon. Besides, ity and may not have possibility to lay them, making ovi- this is the first report of dystocia and observation breeding position disorders common in captive reptiles (Rivera 2008). ecology of Anatolian chameleons. During our fieldwork in Güllük town (Muğla, Turkey, 37.245648° N, 27.629143° E, 7 m a.s.l.) on September 20, 2013, a female C. chamaeleon was captured. Vegetation cover at the area was mainly consisted of Pinus brutia, Salix sp., Nerium Acknowledgements. This study was financially supported by oleander and Olea europaea. In order to take tissue sample, Research Fund Accountancy of Ege University [2012FEN062]. We are measurements and photo, the individual was kept in captiv- indebted to the establishment for financial support. ity in a terrarium (LxWxH, 120x40x50 cm) and fed with grasshoppers (Locusta migratoria). The snout-vent length (SVL) and the total length were 153.41 mm, and 288.62 mm References respectively. After 6 weeks, the chameleon died during the night and the dissection showed that it was a gravid female. Baran, İ., Ilgaz, Ç., Avcı, A., Kumlutaş, Y., Olgun, K. (2013): Türkiye amfibi ve The 32 eggs were taken out from the body cavity. The mean sürüngenleri [Amphibians and Reptiles of Turkey], TÜBİTAK, Ankara. Baran, İ., Kasparek, M., Öz, M. (1988): On the occurrence and status of the length of these eggs was 18.10 mm (SD= 0.68, range= 16.77 – chameleon, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, in Turkey. Zoology in the Middle East 19.33) and the mean width 10.73 mm (SD= 0.33, range= 10.11 2(1): 52-56. – 11.45). Blasco, M., Cano, J., Crespillo, E., Escudero, J.C., Romero, J., Sanchez, J.M. (1985): Elm camaleon comun (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) en la Peninsula Iberica. Chameleons generally mate between mid-August and Monografia 43, ICONA. Ministerio Agricultura Pesca y Alimentacion, Mid-September and the egg laying occurs from mid- Madrid, Spain. September to early November (Cuadrado et al. 2002). The Cuadrado, M., Loman, J. (1999): The effects of age and size on reproductive individuals we find correspond to the end of the reproduc- timing in female Chamaeleo chamaeleon. Journal of Herpetology 33: 6–11. Cuadrado, M., Diaz-Paniagua, C., Quevedo, M.A., Aguilar, J.M., Molina tive period between these dates. Cuadrado et al. (2002) re- Prescott, I. (2002): Hematology and clinical chemistry in dystocic and ported that during the egg laying period, the breeding diffi- healthy post-reproductive female Chameleons. Journal of Wildlife Diseases culty name as dystocia may be occurred depending on body 38: 395–401. Denardo, D. (1996): Dystocias. pp.370–374. In: Mader, D.R. (eds.), Reptile size and the egg size Dystocia is observed in high rates espe- medicine and surgery, W. B. Saunders Company. cially in first time breeding females. Females suffering from Notes on the reproduction of Mediterranean chameleon from Southwestern Anatolia 117
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