Info of Furcifer Balteatus?

[SoCaliSon]

I noticed there is little to no info available on this Cham, everywhere I have looked. I was spurred to do some more reading on them because of the great segment they have in the Chameleons of Madagascar DVD. Such a beautiful species. Can anyone point me to some resources? I just assume that this species is not allowed to be exported from Maddy as I have never seen or heard of any in captivity...or am I mistaken?

~Joe

EDIT: DANGIT I hate when I have a typo in the Title...can't Edit it!

 

[Malicious]

I did a google search to no avail, just a few pictures and some very brief articles about thier habitats. The are interesting looking chameleons. I also found a few links that lead me back to the forum, I'm sure you did that aswell. If I come across anything I will surely let you know.

-Jay

 

[bosco]

Some people in Germany breed them.

 

[Kent67]

Yep, it's one of those species. Imports of Furcifer balteatus were suspended by CITES in 1995 and legal specimens have not been imported to the US since. Back when they were legally imported, I don't remember them being too common in people's collections. Although, I believe they weren't too difficult to breed and a few people had success breeding, incubating, and hatching the eggs. I saw someone in Europe hatched out a big clutch last year.

I've always thought they're a beautiful species with that curving lateral stripe visible at birth. They're reasonably big, although they have rather long tails. It's an eastern species and so get lots of water. From what I remember I believe they can be found near Ifanadiana/Ranomafana, around where the yellow-lip Parson's are.

 

[Sang]

they look pretty cool. would be a fun chameleon to own.

 

[merumontanus]

I noticed there is little to no info available on this Cham, everywhere I have looked. I was spurred to do some more reading on them because of the great segment they have in the Chameleons of Madagascar DVD. Such a beautiful species. Can anyone point me to some resources? I just assume that this species is not allowed to be exported from Maddy as I have never seen or heard of any in captivity...or am I mistaken?

~Joe

EDIT: DANGIT I hate when I have a typo in the Title...can't Edit it!

Joe,

There were some in zoological institutions after the famous confiscation in 2002. I'm not sure if there are any left, but a few members on this forum took a trip to the Buffalo Zoo a while back and got a glimpse at a number of them behind the scenes. There should be a thread somewhere in the clouds about this...

Fabián

 

[SoCaliSon]

Why is the unobtainable always so alluring!?!?

Thanks guys for your responses. Not interested in how to acquire these such species, but would absolutely LOVE to do more reading if anyone comes across some good material to refer me to.

On a side note, I know this is not the area of the island, but does anyone have any current news on Daewoo's raping of Madagascar? I really wish we could get the local culture to share the respect for how special their land really is. Hard for me to talk not having suffered the plights of their economy... But it is just sad to such a unique area of the world be wiped away like that.

 

[eisentrauti]

Look on kingsnake: The following species aren't at the moment available in Europe: merumontanus, uthmoelleri, tenue, goetzei, LATERISPINIS, tempeli, fuelleborni, werneri ....
Thank god for the variety of chameleons you have in the us !

 

[Chris Anderson]

Joe,

Here is a link with a couple photos of the F. balteatus that the Buffalo Zoo had: https://www.chameleonforums.com/furcifer-balteatus-s-1038/

The new edition of Glaw & Vences has some info on this species.

Chris

 

[eisentrauti]

Thanks for the link

 

[SoCaliSon]

Awesome! Thanks Chris!

I can't help but notice in the pics you posted Chris that the female appeared to be gravid. What would become of the offspring in a situation such as that?

 

[Chris Anderson]

I don't think she was gravid but in the event she were to have laid eggs, the eggs hatched and the babies were raised successfully, I believe they would be traded/sold with other zoos.

Chris

 

[SoCaliSon]

I don't think she was gravid but in the event she were to have laid eggs, the eggs hatched and the babies were raised successfully, I believe they would be traded/sold with other zoos.

Chris

Very cool. It would be awesome to see them in a zoo one day. Given I know little to nothing about the species, The reason I thought she was gravid is based on (probably my only source of info them) The Chameleons of Maddy DVD, Says that they advertise the vibrant orange coloration when they are Gravid. This is why I asked.

 

[Kent67]

On a side note, I know this is not the area of the island, but does anyone have any current news on Daewoo's raping of Madagascar?

That deal was called off by the government of Madagascar shortly after the news went international (and that thread here.)

 

[SoCaliSon]

That deal was called off by the government of Madagascar shortly after the news went international (and that thread here.)

Well that is the best news I have heard all year.