Mayotte chameleon
Furcifer polleni
Furcifer polleni (English: Mayotte Chameleon or Pollen's Chameleon ) is a species of chameleon in the genus Furcifer. They came earlier before only on the Comorian island of Mayotte, an introduced population exists today but also on Anjouan. The species name " polleni " honors the Dutch naturalist François pollen that had collected in conjunction with Douwe van Dam Casparus the holotype.
Features
Furcifer polleni is a medium-sized chameleon. The male reaches a total length of 20.5 cm, the female is 14.8 cm significantly smaller. The head is characterized by a rather high helmet, which clearly dominates the back and is covered with plate-like scales. Only the male has a dorsal crest that extends to the tail. The basic color is highly variable. In the male, bright pattern of different shades of gray and green tones can be seen. Rarely, monochrome gray or green specimens occur. The upper lip signs are usually white. In the female the colors are often green and yellow. Helmet top and toes are brick red, the eyelids and the wattles are bright blue.
Habitat
The species is found in both natural and shaped by man in habitats that include pristine wetland forests, plantations and gardens. In mangrove forests, they can not be found. They can be observed at altitudes 27-459 m sitting in trees, bushes or in the undergrowth.
Way of life
Furcifer polleni is normally a peaceful Art Only male conspecifics show mutually aggressive behavior. If two males meet, they attack each other with wide open mouths and try by biting attacks from the road to market.
Status
The IUCN classifies the Furcifer polleni as " not at risk " ( least concern ), even though no information about the population trends are present. The species is widespread in both urban as well as intensively used agricultural land. The continuing deterioration of natural habitats Mayotte seems not to affect the stock. The intensification of agricultural and horticultural land is expected to have little effect. Furcifer polleni is listed in Appendix II of the CITES Convention, which regulates the trade in wild specimens of this type. Between 2000 and 2010 in 1562 copies for the international pet trade were exported.
Attitude in captivity
Four weeks after mating, the female lays six to twelve eggs on the floor of the vivarium. At incubation temperatures 28-31 ° C the eggs hatch after 260 to 270 days.