Scientists discovered Madagascar's panther chameleon population is actually composed of 11 different species.
Madagascar is known for its rich biodiversity, but many species including the panther chameleon are being threatened by devastating deforestation in the region, the University of Geneva reported. The newly revealed diversity among the colorful chameleons highlights the need to protect the unique creatures of Madagascar.
To make their findings, a research team collected photographs and drops of blood from 324 individual chameleons over the course of two expeditions. They sequenced the DNA of each individual sample in hopes of backing up a hypothesis that color variations among the chameleons were linked to their geographic location of origin.
The findings revealed a strong genetic structure among geographically restricted lineages, meaning there were very low rates of inbreeding within the populations. A mathematical analysis of 324 color photographs revealed the chameleons' colors corresponded with genetic lineage, suggesting the presence of separate species.
"This case of hidden speciation confirms a major characteristic of Madagascar: it is amongst the most diverse places for life on Earth; a biodiversity hotspot," the researchers said in a statement.
The new visual classification key of Madagascar chameleon species could help local biologists and trade managers prevent the over-harvesting of local populations to protect the reptiles' diversity. Currently, deforestation in Madagascar is threatening 400 species of reptiles, 300 species of amphibians, 300 species of birds and 15,000 species of plants. These numbers are troubling because between 80 and 90 percent of species living in Madagascar do not exist anywhere else on Earth.
The findings were reported in a recent edition of the journal Molecular Ecology.
