Papers in the Biological Sciences
Date of this Version
2017
Citation
Krysko, K. L. and L. A. Somma. 2017. The status of two species of nonindigenous lizards in Florida, the Slender Chameleon, Chamaeleo gracilis Hallowell 1842 and White-lined Chameleon, Furcifer lateralis (Gray 1831): A corrigendum. Reptiles & Amphibians 24(1):65-66.
Abstract
Krysko et al. (2016) recently published a summary of all known verified introductions of nonindigenous amphibians and reptiles in Florida, USA. Herein, we correct the identity tity of one species and include an additional new record of a nonindigenous chameleon in Florida.
Krysko et al. (2016) reported the presence of a White-lined Chameleon, Furcifer lateralis (Gray 1831). In fact, this was a misidentified Slender Chameleon, Chamaeleo gracilis Hallowell 1842 (C. Anderson, pers. comm. 2016). Discussion and reference to F. lateralis in Krysko et al. (2016) and all associated data (UF voucher number, locality, collector, and collection date, including Table 1, page 118, its associated paragraph, page 128, and the caption to Figure 10, page 128) should be modified to reflect this voucher’s identity as C. gracilis. Chamaeleo gracilis is indigenous to a broad region of eastern and western-central sub-Saharan Africa (Spawls et al. 2004; Tilbury and Tolley 2009; Tilbury 2014; Tolley and Menegan 2014; Glaw 2015). On 10 December 2004, a single supposed C. gracilis was found on a road in Palm City, Martin County, Florida. This gravid female oviposited 22 eggs in captivity, leading Engeman et al. (2005) to suggest that this species might be established. However, neither voucher specimen nor photograph was ever presented to confirm the presence of this species, and no additional C. gracilis have since been found in that area.
Comments
Copyright © 2017. Kenneth L. Krysko.