Chameleon species chart and pronunciations

[Virgil]

Not quite sure where to put this...

I was thinking of making a chart with life-sized drawings of adult males from maybe 8 of the most widely kept/known of chameleon species. It would be a pretty large chart, with a full-sized Parson’s.

I would need some help on finalizing the species list and with actual measurements of animals. In general order of decreasing length:

Parson’s
Meller’s
Oustalet’s (could remove one of the big 3 and add a smaller one later)
Veiled
Panther
Jackson’s
Graceful or Senegal or flap-neck, medium-ish size
Brevicaudatus? Some species of pygmy

We can argue about the order they’re in too, of course.

It seems like something that would be helpful when teaching people about chameleons. I want to draw the chart as opposed to using photos because I love drawing and chameleons are so colorful. I was going to label the chart with the everyday names of the species, but that leads me to another question:

How do you pronounce Latin names like Trioceros Melleri, Parsonii, or Oustaleti? I suspect I am butchering them like I did 'ambilobe' until just a little while ago.

Thoughts welcome.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

That would be awesome! I'd love to see it when you're done!

 

[Virgil]

Input on the species list, anyone?

 

[CarlC]

How about lateralis?

Carl

 

[Virgil]

How about lateralis?

Carl

That would be perfect, actually. Just a bit smaller than a Jackson's. Thank you! They'll be fun to draw.

 

[Virgil]

Revised list:

Parson’s
Meller’s
Oustalet’s
Veiled
Panther
Jackson’s
Carpet
Brevicaudatus

Or

Parson’s
Meller’s
Veiled
Panther
Jackson’s
Graceful or Senegal or flap-neck, medium-ish size
Carpet
Brevicaudatus

I think three chameleons each easily 24" long may be too much...

 

[Olimpia]

It depends how thorough you want to be, I guess. Ousties aren't that popular yet, but with some wild in Florida we will probably start seeing them for sale a lot more. I certainly am now in local shows.

To be more accurate you may have to include females in there somehow. There's a big difference in most species between males and females in size and shape, it would help people identify what they have.

 

[qdude46]

For the male female thing, you could do it like a mirror almost, the male on the right.

 

[Virgil]

Well, a chart can only be so large and still be practical; I can't fit every species on. A chart of females would be a good idea. I'll look into that after I draw the one with males to see how long it takes. The two charts would go together though, with the male/female of the same species in the same location on the chart.

Do you think that two charts (one males, one females) would be more useful, or a first chart with male and female of four species, and a second chart with the other four male and female, keeping the couples together?

This will be a really fun project. I should start drafting the drawings over Christmas once the list is fairly firm. I'll see if I can do minimal justice to a cham's color.

 

[CarlC]

If you do the chart I think it would be best to give the Latin name first and then the common name.

You showed the perfect reason for using the Latin name in the updated list. Jeweled chameleon is used to refer to Furcifer campani not Furcifer lateralis.

I've always felt that by knowing the Latin name you give the animal more respect by knowing its true name.

Carl

 

[Virgil]

If you do the chart I think it would be best to give the Latin name first and then the common name.

You showed the perfect reason for using the Latin name in the updated list. Jeweled chameleon is used to refer to Furcifer campani not Furcifer lateralis.

I've always felt that by knowing the Latin name you give the animal more respect by knowing its true name.

Carl

Oops, thanks. I'll edit the list...I thought they were the same!

Does anyone know how to pronounce the Latin?

 

[Olimpia]

And just for the sake of reference, the Latin names are always written like so:

Furcifer pardalis | Calumma parsonii | Trioceros melleri

The full name is always in italics, and the first name (the genus) is always capitalized while the second name (species) is always lowercase.

If you want to abbreviate it's like this:

F. pardalis

So that's pretty much the etiquette regarding scientific names. Pretty easy but the general populous isn't familiar with how it works.

That's why even when I talk about my Meller's, I never write "Melleri" with a capital M. Or Parsonii with a capital P, for example.

Happy illustrating!

Edit - as far as pronunciation, I can't help you there. I'm originally from Spain so I use a different pronunciation than English-speakers (so my "e" is "eh" and my "i" is "ee". But in general you say it how it's spelled, and names that end in "ii" like parsonii it's roughly like parson-eye.

 

[laurie]

Quadricornis, you could add quads to your chart. They are overlooked often but they are magnificent. It would make me very, very happy.

 

[Virgil]

And just for the sake of reference, the Latin names are always written like so:

Furcifer pardalis | Calumma parsonii | Trioceros melleri

The full name is always in italics, and the first name (the genus) is always capitalized while the second name (species) is always lowercase.

If you want to abbreviate it's like this:

F. pardalis

So that's pretty much the etiquette regarding scientific names. Pretty easy but the general populous isn't familiar with how it works.

That's why even when I talk about my Meller's, I never write "Melleri" with a capital M. Or Parsonii with a capital P, for example.

Thank you for the reminder. I was getting lazy on my taxonomy.

Someone needs to fix Wikipedia's lateralis article:

'Furcifer lateralis, also known as the carpet chameleon, jewelled chameleon or the white-lined chameleon, is a species of chameleon that is endemic to Madagascar.'

Quads could definitely be added, Laurie, if you'll help me with basic measurements...I love their general look.

This is a tentative final list:

Parson’s
Meller’s
Veiled
Panther
Quadricornis (is this where they would go? They look bigger than Jackson's.)
Jackson’s
Carpet
Brevicaudatus

 

[CarlC]

Someone needs to fix Wikipedia's lateralis article:

'Furcifer lateralis, also known as the carpet chameleon, jewelled chameleon or the white-lined chameleon, is a species of chameleon that is endemic to Madagascar.'

All the more reason to stay away from common names. Another good example is deremensis, werneri, fuelleborni, jacksoni jacksoni, jacksoni merumontanus, jacksoni zantholophus, johnstoni all have or can have three horns. Who gets the nickname of three horned chameleon?

Carl

 

[qdude46]

Don't forget about fischers!

 

[chameleonowner32]

Revised list:

Parson’s
Meller’s
Oustalet’s
Veiled
Panther
Jackson’s
Carpet
Brevicaudatus

Or

Parson’s
Meller’s
Veiled
Panther
Jackson’s
Graceful or Senegal or flap-neck, medium-ish size
Carpet
Brevicaudatus

I think three chameleons each easily 24" long may be too much...

This is wrong my friend. Oustalets is number 1. They measure in at 32 inches max.

 

[Virgil]

This is wrong my friend. Oustalets is number 1. They measure in at 32 inches max.

And that's why I need your guys' help! I have seen pictures of Rex; is he still growing?

 

[chameleonowner32]

And that's why I need your guys' help! I have seen pictures of Rex; is he still growing?

Haha yeah Ill post a pic in the morning

 

[Olimpia]

Parson's are still about twice as heavy or more as both Ousties or Meller's, though. They win out in sheer net mass.