Can Chameleon Absord Water through their skin

[Elizadolots]

Even humans absorb moisture through skin and especially mucous membranes. I suspect all animals do to some degree. While the skin of a reptile might be designed to "resist" water, I doubt it completely repels it.

I say that because most animals also "breath" to some extent through their skin.

However, I suspect the original question was motivated by a belief that the fact we don't always see them drinking doesn't mean they aren't getting water...(if not by the poster, then by someone the poster spoke with).

I think it's pretty obvious that they do need to take water in by mouth to survive. They just do it when we aren't looking or in a way that suggests they aren't opening their mouths...Getting them dripping wet and pointing their noses in the air counts as "drinking"...they're sneak drinking! Well, really they do that too. It's important that they get some private time when water is available because some won't drink in front of the big humanoid they suspect might want to kill them.... Also, they are getting water into their nasal membranes and especially, their eyes. So, the misting is vitally important even if its not how the animal is getting the majority of its water.

FFSTRescue wrote:

That's what is hard about these forums, you are speaking to a wide audience, many different educational levels

Yes, indeed. and I agree with you that taking the simpler, easier to understand approach is always the best idea, especially in a "general" forum where the reader might well be someone who just happened to get a chameleon without ever having taken biology or botany in high school.

Parse it so an intelligent person who's not educated in the specific field can understand it. If that's somehow difficult, send a PM to the poster.

 

[gaxmode]

I wasn't down talking ya just giving a little extra insight that's all.... I'm at work currently so that may have something to do with it lol

 

[Elizadolots]

I hadn't taken it as "down talking"...we just like to discuss stuff....

 

[summoner12]

Someone asked this question at an SBCK meeting we had at Dr. Greek's veterinary hospital. He had said there isn't much research into chameleons ability.... but that there was some sort of lizard that does have skin that will absorb water. I think he also said there were some lizards that will absorb water through parts of the body... like the eye lid.

I don't have any scientific proof that they do or don't. But I think I would camp on the side that says 'they do not'.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Not to mention some species of chameleons have got different kind of skin. Such as an Oustaleti compared to Parsons chameleons. When Sticky Tongue Chameleons was still working and breeding chameleons they stated multiple times that they believed that Parsons chameleons absorbed a lot of moisture though their shin although they never did any studies to prove this claim. I think it may be possible and should be studied to confirm the accuracy of the claim.

 

[ChameleonRave]

Dripper and mist few times a day for few minutes each and you're good to go.. place the Dripper in a spot that allows it to drip through as many leaves as possible.

this is totally irrelevant to this thread but your avatar pic made me Cheeze

 

[summoner12]

Not to mention some species of chameleons have got different kind of skin. Such as an Oustaleti compared to Parsons chameleons. When Sticky Tongue Chameleons was still working and breeding chameleons they stated multiple times that they believed that Parsons chameleons absorbed a lot of moisture though their shin although they never did any studies to prove this claim. I think it may be possible and should be studied to confirm the accuracy of the claim.

I think the skin of some chams needs to have more moisture than other chams... but I don't think the skin absorbs the moisture in a way that benefits the cham, such as body hydration. What I mean here... is that the cham isn't hydrating itself through the skin, rather the skin better maintains itself with more moisture in the air. I think as a side affect the cham is more able to hydrate itself with the ability to drink more frequently since moisture is more readily available on near by plants with the higher humidity and frequency of misting and/or fog for boosting the RH.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

I think the skin of some chams needs to have more moisture than other chams... but I don't think the skin absorbs the moisture in a way that benefits the cham, such as body hydration. What I mean here... is that the cham isn't hydrating itself through the skin, rather the skin better maintains itself with more moisture in the air. I think as a side affect the cham is more able to hydrate itself with the ability to drink more frequently since moisture is more readily available on near by plants with the higher humidity and frequency of misting and/or fog for boosting the RH.

It has to be studied much more however it is an intriguing theory. However, If you have ever seen a Parsons chameleon skin up close and see how it reacts to water you may think it is possible.

 

[summoner12]

It does seem like it would be a good sponge.

 

[ruru]

all this scientific talk
very interesting
gorgeous cham you have there summnoner!

 

[FFSTRescue]

It does seem like it would be a good sponge.

WOW! I'm jealous!

 

[Chris Anderson]

Actually, there are a number of lizard species that are known to have cutaneous water acquisition but acquisition is not the same as absorption. The skin of most reptiles is designed to prevent evaporative water loss and as a result, it is resistant to water exchange across the skin itself. Many species do have small channels all over the skin, however, and these channels often act like a capillary system where water in the air, substrate, or puddle are essentially sucked into the capillary channels like a wick. In some species, these channels lead the water toward the mouth where they basically drink it. To the best of my knowledge, no one has looked at chameleons to see if they have a similar mechanism of water acquisition but I can testify to the fact that when Brookesia perarmata steps in water, their skin seems to wick water up their sides remarkably well and I suspect they do have a similar mechanism.

Chris

 

[summoner12]

all this scientific talk
very interesting
gorgeous cham you have there summnoner!

WOW! I'm jealous!

I am jealous too! but, to clarify this isn't my cham Although the photo was taken by me

 

[FFSTRescue]

I am jealous too! but, to clarify this isn't my cham Although the photo was taken by me

Well then I am jealous that you got to see one in person and take a picture of it yourself!

 

[FFSTRescue]

Actually, there are a number of lizard species that are known to have cutaneous water acquisition but acquisition is not the same as absorption. The skin of most reptiles is designed to prevent evaporative water loss and as a result, it is resistant to water exchange across the skin itself. Many species do have small channels all over the skin, however, and these channels often act like a capillary system where water in the air, substrate, or puddle are essentially sucked into the capillary channels like a wick. In some species, these channels lead the water toward the mouth where they basically drink it. To the best of my knowledge, no one has looked at chameleons to see if they have a similar mechanism of water acquisition but I can testify to the fact that when Brookesia perarmata steps in water, their skin seems to wick water up their sides remarkably well and I suspect they do have a similar mechanism.

Chris

Thanks for that Chris. So, the scales prevent water loss from evaporation, so does that mean that reptiles do not feel the evaporative cooling effects? So when people think that misting a reptile with cold water on a hot day will cool it down, is this untrue? It is something I have always wondered.

 

[summoner12]

Well then I am jealous that you got to see one in person and take a picture of it yourself!

And hold it too haha

 

[Chris Anderson]

Thanks for that Chris. So, the scales prevent water loss from evaporation, so does that mean that reptiles do not feel the evaporative cooling effects? So when people think that misting a reptile with cold water on a hot day will cool it down, is this untrue? It is something I have always wondered.

No, they still feel evaporative cooling effects. Those effects are simply the absorption of heat by the water as it evaporates off of your skin and has nothing to do with transfer of water across the skin layer. By preventing water loss from evaporation, I am talking about preventing the transfer of water from inside the body to the skin's surface and then the air, not about evaporation of water on the skin itself.

Chris

 

[Carlton]

Thanks for that Chris. So, the scales prevent water loss from evaporation, so does that mean that reptiles do not feel the evaporative cooling effects? So when people think that misting a reptile with cold water on a hot day will cool it down, is this untrue? It is something I have always wondered.

I don't think any chams have true scales.

That "wicking" thing is really interesting Chris! Makes sense that a species spending more time on the ground or in ground cover would be able to pick up moisture that way. A more arboreal species would get "rained" on more reliably than on in deep understory.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

No, they still feel evaporative cooling effects. Those effects are simply the absorption of heat by the water as it evaporates off of your skin and has nothing to do with transfer of water across the skin layer. By preventing water loss from evaporation, I am talking about preventing the transfer of water from inside the body to the skin's surface and then the air, not about evaporation of water on the skin itself.

Chris

Chris
You have worked with Parsons chameleon and seen up close what their skin looks like and how it reacts to water. Do you think there is any possibility that Parsons or related species for some reason could have evolved a mechanism that absorbs water through their skin. As they have evolved in a rain forest habitat not a desert habitat and have got no use of scales preventing water loss in a rain forest system?

Jeremy

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Chris
You have worked with Parsons chameleon and seen up close what their skin looks like and how it reacts to water. Do you think there is any possibility that Parsons or related species for some reason could have evolved a mechanism that absorbs water through their skin. As they have evolved in a rain forest habitat not a desert habitat and have got no use of scales preventing water loss in a rain forest system?

Jeremy

Sorry for the highjack. I see them on a fairly regular basis, and water beads on them like water on a freshly waxed car. Don't think any water is getting in. Their head shape allows for water to slide down the top of head and kinda funnle to back mouth area. Water can then be sucked in through that back section of their mouth.