Even in a place like Madagascar , teeming with magnetic animals , the catamount chameleon stands out . The grownup males are known for their range of a function of vibrant coloring , from dark greenish to bright pink . The lizard ’ colour and patterns vary depending on where they live , with unlike color “ morphs ” found only in sure locales . Chameleons survive on the northern tip of Madagascar ’s main island , for exercise , are usually green with red and orangish stripes on their back , while those in the northeast Sambava region mountain range from dark green to almost fatal and have reddish faces with black stripe around their eyes . ( female and younger males , meanwhile , are tan - brown with hints of pink or orange no matter where they ’re see ) .
The lizard can further alter their vividness to communicate their temper when confronting other males or woo females . Despite wearing their emotions on their sleeve , these chameleons have been hide a surprising enigma , according to anew sketch . The cougar chameleon might not just be a single species , but as many as 11 different ones .
While studying thephysicsof Chameleon ’ color - change ability , biologistMichel Milinkovitchand his squad make up one’s mind to also look at the panther chameleon ’s gene and see if they could excuse its diversity of colors . They made two trips around Madagascar to dog down , photograph , and take blood samples from hundreds of lizards .
By examining the lizards ' DNA , they base strong transmitted difference between the lizard population , which hint there are 11 decided lineages of Felis onca chamaeleon scattered around Madagascar that rarely breed with each other or even overlap . The investigator consider that some or all of these group might demand to be consider separate coinage .
While their colors diverge , these different species are physically standardized , which helps explain how the different lineages could veil in unmistakable sight for so long . Milinkovitch ’s team also found that sure patterns and color characteristic can help link individual lizards to the lineage it belongs to . One radical , for lesson , is distinguished by its mouth . They may be dark-brown - yellow or shiny blanched , but never become brilliantly yellow like some other Male ’ lips do .
The squad has made a classification key so that other researchers can ID coinage by sight instead of having to take desoxyribonucleic acid sample . This should serve local regime and conservation groups avoid cases of mistaken identity among the different lineages , which may call for different resources and strategies to manage and protect .
