Anderson Lab

Studying comparative biomechanics, functional morphology & the physiology of movement, mostly in chameleons and anoles; All views our own

[IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @IUCNchameleons]

Tomorrow (May 9) is International Chameleon Day! Here is an interview with The Revalator pitching to increase education on chameleons globally & locally in range states year round & discussing the conservation of chameleons.
https://t.co/bsatfw1p11

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

Today we had a litter of Jackson’s Chameleons (Trioceros j. jacksonii) born in the lab. These will now be a part of various projects we have going on focusing on different aspects of physiology, metabolism & scaling. Lots of babies in the lab & it looks like a more to come soon!

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

Had a litter of Trioceros hoehnelii born in the lab today. The mother of this clutch is in the lab for some locomotion work we are doing. These will now be a part of various projects focusing on different aspects of physiology, metabolism & scaling. Always fun having babies born!

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

Busy week from the field back to USD.

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

The montane fynbos ecomorph of the Southern Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion ventrale) at Groendal Nature Reserve.

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

The “typical” forest ecomorph of the Pondo Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion caffrum) at Port St. Johns.

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

Grassland ecomorph of the Pondo Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion caffer) at Mkambati Nature Reserve.

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

We made it to the third round, one step closer to a $10,000 prize to support chameleon conservation! Please vote again for Rhampholeon acuminatus to help us secure this funding! You can vote every day on every device! Voting for the third round ends on March 26! Vote now!

[IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @IUCNchameleons]

We made the 2nd round of the Indianapolis Zoo's Uproar Conservation Challenge! Now vote for Rhampholeon acuminatus in round 2 to help our species advance again & bring us closer to the $10,000 conservation prize!

Round 2 voting ends March 23 at https://t.co/QUReppOYys

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

One round closer to a $10,000 prize to support chameleon conservation! Please vote again for Rhampholeon acuminatus in the second round of this competition to help us secure this funding!

[IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @IUCNchameleons]

We made the 2nd round of the Indianapolis Zoo's Uproar Conservation Challenge! Now vote for Rhampholeon acuminatus in round 2 to help our species advance again & bring us closer to the $10,000 conservation prize!

Round 2 voting ends March 23 at https://t.co/QUReppOYys

[IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @IUCNchameleons]

Help Rhampholeon acuminatus come roaring back by casting your vote in the Uproar Conservation Challenge! Every vote helps our species advance to the next round and brings us closer to the $10,000 conservation prize!

Round one voting ends March 19 https://t.co/QUReppOYys

[IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @IUCNchameleons]

Vote to help our species advance through the bracket-style competition and compete for a $10,000 conservation prize that supports our conservation efforts! Visit the website for more info on this conservation themed March Madness-style bracket competition: https://t.co/Dr7wUqyR57

[IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @IUCNchameleons]

Help earn conservation funding for chameleons by voting to advance the Nguru Spiny Pygmy Chameleon (Rhampholeon acuminatus) through the Indianapolis Zoo Uproar Conservation Challenge starting March 16. https://t.co/Dr7wUqyR57

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

The Anderson Lab is at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) conference in Portland, OR this week presenting a variety of talks on ongoing research in the lab! Check out some of these talks if you’re here!

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

Some Chamaeleo calyptratus hatching in the lab currently as part of a bunch of thermal physiology, metabolic and scaling work. Always fun having babies born!

[IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @IUCNchameleons]

The first digital anatomical atlases of the chameleon skull, nervous system & cranial & hyolingual muscles using contrast-enhanced µCT are published, with lesson plans to bridge a gap between theoretical knowledge & hands-on analysis in comparative anatomy
https://t.co/aRf4XUxjZV

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

Some fun chameleon and Anolis contributions from the Anderson Lab to this work!

[IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @IUCNchameleons]

122 cases of limb loss in lizards revealed that these these rare survivors of traumatic injuries can run just as fast, maintain healthy body weight, reproduce successfully & live surprisingly long lives.
Article: https://t.co/rCjDpUOamr
Summary: https://t.co/gWEVI9aW5c

[IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @IUCNchameleons]

A reevaluation of chameleon foraging mode using movement- & attack-based indices. Chameleons spent most of the day stationary & fed more when stationary than when moving, suggesting they should be considered ambush foragers rather than "cruise foragers".
https://t.co/YeVsoquedE

[Anderson Lab @AndersonLabUSD]

Some nice coverage on our new chameleon and salamander feeding paper: https://t.co/aji4TtBxmc

[IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @IUCNchameleons]

While similar mechanistically, ballistic tongues of chameleons & salamanders were each assembled via a different sequence of innovations, highlighting how biomechanical modularity, rather than exceptional materials, underlies this vertebrate ballistic innovation.

[IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group @IUCNchameleons]

Chameleons & salamanders evolved a sliding-based linear actuator to launch the tongue via muscular squeezing of a tapered skeletal rod, contrasting with tendon-driven pulling mechanisms common in most musculoskeletal systems.
https://t.co/U9OA8NjfTr