For almost 150 years, zoologists have been taking Pinocchio chameleon (cock rod) at nominal value. However, a recent replication study, detailed in Salamander, German Journal of Herpetology reveals that the chameleon is actually several species with elongated snouts worthy of the nickname.
More than 40 percent of the 236 known chameleon species worldwide live on the island Madagascar located off the coast of East Africa. Reptiles are often recognizable for a variety of reasons, including their ballistic language They use their ability to change color and their independently movable eyes, which give them stereoscopic vision, to eat prey. But the male chameleon Pinocchio has another striking feature: an uneven and very long nose.
First described in 1877 and also known as spear-nosed or bladed chameleon, K. gallus was named after the Latin word for rooster. While this is an understandable comparison, the lizard has become better known over time for its resemblance to the famous, fantasy-prone Italian puppet.
For decades, researchers have known that the shape and size of Pinocchio the chameleon's nasal appendage varies from animal to animal, but believed it was simply a unique physical quirk. Using a technique known as museomics, a team from Germany's Bavarian State Natural History Collections obtained and studied DNA sequences collected from old museum specimens. One of these precious specimens dates back to 1836. It was only after traveling back in time using DNA that they realized there was a taxonomic error going back almost a century and a half.
“The genetic analysis is compelling: nasal chameleons have all but fooled previous studies,” study co-author Frank Glow said. says the statement.
Glo explained that the team's research also confirmed that each chameleon's nose can quickly change color, shape and length.
“Their evolution may have been driven by female mate preferences,” he added.
Currently, some lizards previously considered K. gallus now reclassified to Calumma Pinocchio. In addition, a second new species has appeared, called Calumma choreiteri was installed separately from another chameleon, Calumma nasutum.
“The study shows the great potential of new museomics methods for the correct identification of historically collected specimens, especially in species complexes,” added Miguel Vences, study co-author and zoologist at the Technical University of Braunschweig.
Although the total number of known chameleons in Madagascar now exceeds exactly 100 individual species, many of their actual populations continue to decline. Regardless of taxonomy, the IUCN states that Pinocchio's chameleon remains endangered.
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