Variation in body temperatures of the African Chameleon Chamaeleo africanus Laurenti, 1768 and the Common Chameleon Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Linnaeus,1758)

Data on the thermal ecology of the African Chameleon Chamaeleo africanus Laurenti, 1768 and the Common Chameleon Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Linnaeus, 1758) are reported from Greece. In the field the Tb values ranged from 10.4 degrees C to 31.6 degrees C for C. africanus and 23.5 degrees C to 31 degrees C for C. chamaeleon. There was a significant correlation between Tb and Ta in spring and summer for both species. There was also a significant correlation between Th and Ts only in the spring and only for C. africanus. Cloacal temperatures differed significantly between spring and summer and so did substrate temperatures and air temperatures. As the months became hotter the animals reached higher temperatures. In a laboratory temperature gradient, the preferred body temperatures of C. africanus and C chamaeleon were measured and compared with field body temperatures. The preferred body temperature in the laboratory gradient ranged from 26.0 degrees C to 36.0 degrees C for C. chamaeleon and from 25.0 degrees C to 35.0 degrees C for C. africanus. The mean Tb for C. africanus in the laboratory was 31 degrees C while for C. chamaeleon it was 31.6 degrees C. The results indicate that both chameleon species are thermoconformers. Cloacal temperatures differed significantly between the two species in the field but not in the laboratory. There was no difference between the Tb of the two sexes, both in the field and in the laboratory.