No lie. The long-nosed Pinocchio chameleon is multiple species.
For nearly 150 years, the Pinocchio chameleon (Calumma gallus) has been a fascinating subject of study for zoologists, often admired for its distinctive elongated snout. However, a groundbreaking study published in the journal *Salamandra* reveals that what was once thought to be a single species is actually a complex of multiple distinct species. This revelation is based on advanced genetic analysis techniques known as museomics, which allowed researchers at Germany’s Bavarian State Collections of Natural Histories to examine DNA sequences from historical specimens, some dating back to 1836. The findings indicate that the Pinocchio chameleon, often likened to the famous marionette for its unusual nose, has fooled researchers for generations, with the study coauthor Frank Glaw noting that the genetic analyses are “conclusive” in revealing this long-standing taxonomic error.
The study not only reclassifies some chameleons previously identified as C. gallus into the newly defined species Calumma pinocchio, but it also introduces another species, Calumma hofreiteri, alongside Calumma nasutum. Madagascar, where over 40% of the world’s 236 known chameleon species reside, continues to be a hotspot for biodiversity, yet many of these species face threats from habitat loss and environmental changes. Despite the recent advancements in understanding their taxonomy, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Pinocchio chameleon as endangered, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts. The research underscores the importance of modern genetic methods in accurately identifying species, particularly within complex groups, and emphasizes the ongoing challenges faced by Madagascar’s unique wildlife as they navigate a rapidly changing environment.
For nearly 150 years, zoologists have taken the Pinocchio
chameleon
(
Caluma gallus
) at face value.. However, a recent reexamination detailed in
Salamandra, the German Journal of Herpetology
reveals that the chameleon is actually multiple species with elongated snouts worthy of the nickname.
Over 40 percent of the 236 known chameleon species around the world live on the island of
Madagascar
located off the East African coast. The reptiles are often recognizable for a variety of reasons, including their
ballistic tongue
they use to slurp up prey, their color changing abilities , and their independently mobile eyes that give them stereoscopic vision. But the male Pinocchio chameleon specifically possesses yet another striking trait: a bumpy and very lengthy nose.
Males of the new chameleon species Calumma pinocchio have a smooth-edged nasal appendage. Credit: Frank Glaw (ZSM/SNSB)
First described in 1877 and also known as the
lance-nosed or blade chameleon
,
C. gallus
was named after the Latin word for rooster. While an understandable comparison, the lizard eventually became more commonly known for its resemblance to the famous, fib-prone Italian marionette.
For decades, researchers knew that the shape and size of the Pinocchio chameleon’s nasal appendage fluctuated animal-to-animal, but believed that it was simply a unique physical quirk. Using a technique known as museomics, a team at Germany’s Bavarian State Collections of Natural Histories obtained and studied DNA sequences collected from the museum’s old specimens. One of these precious samples dated as far back as 1836. Only after traveling back through time via DNA did they realize the taxonomic error stretching back nearly a century-and-a-half.
“The genetic analyses are conclusive: the nose chameleons have virtually fooled previous research,” study coauthor Frank Glaw
said in a statement
.
Glaw explained that the team’s study also confirmed each chameleon’s nose can quickly change in terms of color, shape, and length.
“Their evolution is possibly driven by the respective preferences of females in mate selection,” he added.
Adult male of
Calumma nasutum
. This species is known since almost 190 years, but its true identity was uncovered only now by the application of modern genetic methods. Credit: Miguel Vences (TU Braunschweig)
As it stands today, some lizards previously considered to be
C. gallus
are now reclassified as
Calumma pinocchio
. Additionally, a second new species called
Calumma hofreiteri
has been established apart from another chameleon,
Calumma nasutum
.
“The study shows the great potential of the new museomics methods to correctly identify historically collected specimens especially in species complexes,” added Miguel Vences, study coauthor and zoologist at the Technical University of Braunschweig.
Although Madagascar’s total number of known chameleons now tops out at exactly 100 separate species, many of their actual populations continue to dwindle. Regardless of its taxonomy, the IUCN says the Pinocchio chameleon
remains endangered
.
The post
No lie. The long-nosed Pinocchio chameleon is multiple species.
appeared first on
Popular Science
.
