Why do Yemen Chameleons have such high casques?

[jacksonchamnew]

Back in the early days i thought the mouth muscles went to the top of the casque. But over the years ive seen tons of males with the casque burned down to the point it looks like a girl, and mouth works fine.

View attachment 277011

This is why I am afraid to get bit by mine. LOL

 

[Mark's Chameleons]

I believe that in addition to showing off to females, the water runs down from the top of the cask to the snout and then mouth… When it is walking amongst leaves that have moisture on them

 

[chamnub]

Intimidating rivals, not trying to impress females with a display but scaring other chams away from their territory. The bigger the casque, the more intimidating you look. Many animals use morphology to AVOID fighting which involves risks for both parties. Food competition + mating competition. I think they store fat in the pads as opposed to inside the casque but IDK for sure.

 

[Ramrod]

Then someone needs to inform the San Diego Zoo.

Also:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/purpose-of-the-casque.103139/#post-946668

According to another expert:


Amazing what one can find in the archives.

Tah Dah

 

[PetNcs]

Storage for nutrients?

Mo,
Not even that

 

[PetNcs]

According to another expert:

This is my explanatory text LOL My name is ag the beginning though posted by a member here

 

[PetNcs]

Then someone needs to inform the San Diego Zoo.

Yes, the information is wrong

 

[jacksonchamnew]

So they can pretend to be pterodactyls without wings? LOL https://image.freepik.com/free-photo/pteranodon-pterodactyl-dinosaur-white-background_44074-2924.jpg

 

[PetNcs]

Also:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/purpose-of-the-casque.103139/#post-946668

Absolute and sinful fabulation with no base
1. No water collection happens
2. Flagrant non-knowledge of the rainfall in ayemen demonstrated and even suspected
3. No mating and territorial display function,
4. There is no fat inside just muscle
a pure fantasy

 

[PetNcs]

The function of casques is primarily in the process of interspecific identification of a potential mating partner thanks to the phenomenon called character displacement. Based on differently shaped casques and other cranial protuberances and skin derivates, the females can identify the right sexual partner of own species and refuse any reproduction attempts of a male belonging to another species.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/casque-for-water-storage.171393/#post-1517072

 

[DocZ]

The function of casques is primarily in the process of interspecific identification of a potential mating partner thanks to the phenomenon called character displacement. Based on differently shaped casques and other cranial protuberances and skin derivates, the females can identify the right sexual partner of own species and refuse any reproduction attempts of a male belonging to another species.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/casque-for-water-storage.171393/#post-1517072

Interesting
What other species of chameleon occur in the natural range of the Yemen chameleon?

 

[DocZ]

this picture shows the likely insertion of the temporalis muscle is at the top of the casque. This is usually the strongest muscle in the movement of the mandible. It is interesting that theirs would create such a long open area for the muscle

 

[PetNcs]

Interesting
What other species of chameleon occur in the natural range of the Yemen chameleon?

Syntoptically none
There are touchzones with
Chamaeleo chamaeleon orientalis
Chamaeleo arabicus

The combination of characters forming a easy tomdetect silhouette and head form is

Feature. Ccc-s. Ccc-r. Ca. Cco.
Casque. High. Med Med Low
Occipital flaps. Small. Med. Small. Large
Gular crest. High. Med. Med. Small

Further reading
Necas 1999
Rand 1965

 

[PetNcs]

this picture shows the likely insertion of the temporalis muscle is at the top of the casque. This is usually the strongest muscle in the movement of the mandible. It is interesting that theirs would create such a long open area for the muscleView attachment 277090

It is as you say
The muscle is
Attached to the
Same
Ine in other soecies when the xasque is small
It did not obvioisly change the lication and once the casque raised, it extended and was modified tohether witb the casque oassively,
Not
Losing its lrimary function in chewing

The diwnside is, that in MBD affected animals, this dreonv muscle defirms the head bentinv the casque to a side or in a zigzag form

 

[Ridick]

Sexual appearance, species recognition, the bigger the casque the stronger his bite, water collection on cooler nights when moisture is collecting on it and flows down to mouth, but I'm sure that there may be more.

 

[PetNcs]

Sexual appearance, species recognition, the bigger the casque the stronger his bite, water collection on cooler nights when moisture is collecting on it and flows down to mouth, but I'm sure that there may be more.

Just partly correct.
Itnis always good to read the previous texts before replying

 

[Ridick]

Can't wait till you enlighten us then!

 

[AmandaS]

Since females have smaller casques than males, I’m going to say it has to do with mating...larger casques signify stronger genes. Would also help with territorial display.

Soo...yes, for mating purposes.

 

[PetNcs]

I believe that in addition to showing off to females, the water runs down from the top of the cask to the snout and then mouth… When it is walking amongst leaves that have moisture on them

They really do not utilize it as you say.

 

[PetNcs]

Sexual appearance, species recognition, the bigger the casque the stronger his bite, water collection on cooler nights when moisture is collecting on it and flows down to mouth, but I'm sure that there may be more.

The water collection is a myth that does not happen