Subspecies

[Eshelton3]

How can you tell what subspecies your panther chameleon is?

 

[Coop]

Locales of panther chameleon can be seen through color, size of rostral protrusions (nose), and casque size. I believe the website madcham has a comprehensive list of all locales.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

How can you tell what subspecies your panther chameleon is?

That's a complex question, because there is some disagreement about whether panthers are all one species, several sub-species, or even several species.

E.g.
The Panther Chameleon Is Actually 11 Distinct Species

Photos: 11 Colorful Chameleons of Madagascar

The panther chameleon, admired for its color-changing abilities, is not a single species, as scientists long thought. Researchers went on a road trip around Madagascar and found more than 300 panther chameleons. An analysis of blood samples and photos of each individual suggest that instead of one species, the panther chameleon is actually 11 distinct species that live in separate populations.

Yet there are still ~30+ (depending on the source) 'locales', which to my understanding are supposed to be all of the same species—like dog or cat breeds.

Going back to the original question, what does the breeder say?

The only other way I'm aware of is comparing the chameleon in question against photos of various locales. However, while some locales can be fairly consistent (colors & patterns), others can be extremely varied, e.g. these three are all 'ambilobe' panther chameleons:

Here is the list from MADCHAM.DE

 

[Eshelton3]

That's a complex question, because there is some disagreement about whether panthers are all one species, several sub-species, or even several species.

E.g.
The Panther Chameleon Is Actually 11 Distinct Species

Photos: 11 Colorful Chameleons of Madagascar


Yet there are still ~30+ (depending on the source) 'locales', which to my understanding are supposed to be all of the same species—like dog or cat breeds.

Going back to the original question, what does the breeder say?

The only other way I'm aware of is comparing the chameleon in question against photos of various locales. However, while some locales can be fairly consistent (colors & patterns), others can be extremely varied, e.g. these three are all 'ambilobe' panther chameleons:

View attachment 312877View attachment 312878View attachment 312879

Here is the list from MADCHAM.DE

Well the one I’m getting today is a “surprise ” so I’m not sure what she is lol the breeder says they got mixed up and couldn’t distinguish. I didn’t know if there were any obvious things that each of them had. I will do some reading on the links you sent later. Very interesting subject

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Well the one I’m getting today is a “surprise ” so I’m not sure what she is lol the breeder says they got mixed up and couldn’t distinguish.

I hope they gave you a discount for that.

If you don't intend to breed her, there shouldn't be any problems. If your plan is to breed, I'd invest in a different female of known provenance or the problem will just become exacerbated.

 

[Eshelton3]

I hope they gave you a discount for that.

If you don't intend to breed her, there shouldn't be any problems. If your plan is to breed, I'd invest in a different female of known provenance or the problem will just become exacerbated.

Yea I did get a discount haha and I don’t plan on breeding. This is my very first chameleon so I’m just happy to have one finally

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Yea I did get a discount haha and I don’t plan on breeding. This is my very first chameleon so I’m just happy to have one finally

Me too except for a few times when I kept green anoles. Waited my whole life (retired). Loving it.

 

[kinyonga]

If you're getting a female there won't be the bright color of the male....and if you're not breeding her then the morph/locale won't really matter. Also... be aware that you will have to keep her diet and temperatures controlled so she won't have reproductive issues. You also have to provide an egglaying bin for her. They can produce eggs without having mated.