Chameleons are known as champions of hide and seek, but one species in particular took the game to a very high level. The Feelzkow chameleon (Furcifer voeltzkowi) only occurs in the forests of the African island of Madagascar and you can call it “elusive” without any hesitation. The species was first described in 1893. Only a handful of specimens were described, the last time anyone spotted one was in 1913. So more than 100 years ago.
Many biologists began to question whether the species ever really existed. But now scientists from Germany and Madagascar have announced that they have found several live specimens of the Voeltzkow chameleon while on an expedition in the forests of northwestern Madagascar. And they have seen not only males, but also females. And the latter had never been described before.
Males have a striking, cheerful bright green color. But the females steal the show even more. They exhibit an exotic pattern of speckles and stripes of bright colors, a fascinating mix of purple, white, black, orange, red and green. The females can change patterns according to their mood. Their colors especially stand out during pregnancy, when meeting a male, and during stress.
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