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Archaius tigris

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Order
  
Squamata

Family
  
Chamaeleonidae

Scientific name
  
Calumma tigris

Rank
  
Species

Phylum
  
Chordata

Suborder
  
Iguania

Genus
  
Archaius

Higher classification
  
Calumma

Archaius tigris Tiger chameleon videos photos and facts Archaius tigris ARKive

Similar
  
Chameleons, Calumma, Reptile, Nadzikambia, Calumma boettgeri

The Seychelles Tiger Chameleon, Archaius tigris, is the only species in the resurrected genus Archaius, which has been established in 1865. Initially placed into Chamaeleo, it was for some time moved to the genus Calumma by some (Klaver & Böhme, 1986). It is an endangered species of chameleon, found only on the Seychelles islands of Mahé, Silhouette and Praslin.

Contents

Archaius tigris Archaius tigris The Reptile Database

Endangered status

Archaius tigris Tiger chameleon photos Archaius tigris ARKive

It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List as well as on Appendix II of CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), with its distribution limited to 45 km. A 2006 survey estimated the remaining global population to be just under 2,000 individuals.

Description

Archaius tigris The Travelling Taxonomist reptiglo Calumma tigris by Emmanuel Van

With a length of just 16 centimetres, this species is relatively small for a chameleon. Body colour varies from inconspicuous light-grey to a bold yellow-orange, or even green or dark brown, usually with scattered black spots and a pale grey chin and throat. One of the tiger chameleon’s most distinctive features, however, is the pointed projection on its chin, which can be up to 3 millimetres long and sits amongst a comb of smaller, spiky outgrowths that border the underside of the chin.

Habitat and distribution

Archaius tigris Tiger chameleon photos Archaius tigris ARKive

The tiger chameleon is endemic to the Seychelles, occurring only on the islands of Mahé, Silhouette and Praslin. Being an arboreal species, it is found in primary tropical forest, secondary forest where there is high plant diversity, and upland rural gardens, from sea level to 550 metres.

Behaviour and breeding

Archaius tigris Pinterest The world39s catalog of ideas

After a short warming up phase in the morning, this chameleon goes in search of insects and other small animals on which to feed. Like all chameleons, this species hunts by firing its elongated sticky tongue at prey with incredible speed. The tongue is tipped in a deadly suction pad capable of ensnaring prey that an ordinary reptile would never hope to hold.

Archaius tigris httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Reproduction on the island of Mahé is associated with introduced pineapple plants, in which the tiger chameleon lays its eggs. These plants are not used on Silhouette or Praslin, and the natural nesting sites remain unknown, although the endemic Pandanus and palms are thought to be used. In captivity, clutches contain between five and twelve eggs.

Threats and conservation

As an island endemic with a restricted range of just three small islands, and a population thought to number only 2,000 individuals, the tiger chameleon is particularly vulnerable to changes within its habitat. On the islands of Mahé and Praslin in particular it is threatened by habitat degradation caused by introduced alien plants, such as cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum).

The chameleon and its habitat are protected within the Morne Seychelles (Mahé) and Praslin National Parks. Alien plant control on Praslin and habitat restoration programmes on Silhouette are being undertaken to help contain threats to this species. The main population occurs on Silhouette, where it has been suggested that forested areas containing populations should be given legal protection by being included in a new protected area.

References

Archaius tigris Wikipedia


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