The Biology of Chameleons

Krystal A. Tolley is Principal Scientist, Molecular Ecology Program in Applied Biodiversity Research of the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Her research focuses on understanding the historical processes that generate patterns of diversity and lead to species radiations of reptiles and amphibians in southern Africa. Anthony Herrel is a permanent researcher at the Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the head of the Function and Evolution team of the Unite Mixed de Recherche (UMR) 7179, based at the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris.

Contributors Foreword 1 Biology of the Chameleons: An Introduction Krystal A. Tolley and Anthony Herrel 2 Chameleon Anatomy Christopher V. Anderson and Timothy E. Higham 2.1 Musculoskeletal Morphology 2.2 External Morphology and Integument 2.3 Sensory Structures 2.4 Visceral Systems 3 Chameleon Physiology Anthony Herrel 3.1 Neurophysiology 3.2 Muscle Physiology 3.3 Metabolism, Salt, and Water Balance 3.4 Temperature 3.5 Skin Pigmentation, Color Change, and the Role of Ultraviolet Light 3.6 Developmental Physiology 4 Function and Adaptation of Chameleons Timothy E. Higham and Christopher V. Anderson 4.1 Locomotion 4.2 Feeding 5 Ecology and Life History of Chameleons G. John Measey, Achille Raselimanana, and Anthony Herrel 5.1 Habitat 5.2 Life-History Traits 5.3 Foraging and Diet 5.4 Predators 6 Chameleon Behavior and Color Change Devi Stuart-Fox 6.1 Sensory Systems and Modes of Communication 6.2 Color Changes 6.3 Social and Reproductive Behavior 6.4 Sexual Dimorphism: Body Size and Ornamentation 6.5 Antipredator Behavior 7 Evolution and Biogeography of Chameleons Krystal A. Tolley and Michele Menegon 7.1 Evolutionary Relationships 7.2 Diversity and Distribution 7.3 Regional Diversity 7.4 Patterns of Alpha Diversity 7.5 Patterns of Beta Diversity 8 Overview of the Systematics of the Chamaeleonidae Colin R. Tilbury 8.1 Evolution of Methodology in Chameleon Taxonomy 8.2 Current Status of Taxonomy of the Chamaeleonidae 8.3 Subfamilial Groupings within Chamaeleonidae 8.4 Overview of Extant Genera 9 Fossil History of Chameleons Arnau Bolet and Susan E. Evans 9.1 Phylogenetic Relationships of Iguania and Acrodonta 9.2 Fossil Record of Acrodonta 9.3 Origins of Acrodonta 9.4 Origins of Chamaeleonidae 10 Chameleon Conservation Richard Jenkins, G. John Measey, Christopher V. Anderson, and Krystal A. Tolley 10.1 Conservation Status of Chameleons 10.2 Trade in Chameleons 10.3 Chameleons and Global Change 10.4 The Way Forward Appendix Abbreviations References Photo Credits Index