

Now you see it; now you don’t. One sneaky species plays a world-class game of hide-and-seek. How good is this critter’s game? Scientists didn’t spot a Voeltzkow’s chameleon for over 100 years. But that’s changed.
God gave chameleons many amazing qualities. The reptiles have toes that face both forward and backward, long tongues, grasping tails, and twirling eyes. And of course, their most famous feature is the ability of many species to change color. This color shift can act as camouflage, allowing an animal to conceal itself. But more often, it’s a reaction to the lizard’s surroundings or a signal for other chameleons.
Frank Glaw is curator for reptiles and amphibians at the Bavarian Natural History Collections in Munich, Germany. In 2018, he led a team to locate the rare Voeltzkow’s chameleon. Researchers know very little about this hard-to-find species. After all, Voeltzkow’s chameleons live for only a few months during the rainy season—and only in remote areas in the African island nation of Madagascar. Glaw calls them “the mayflies among vertebrates.”
Scientists were beginning to wonder if the chameleon actually existed. No one had seen one since 1913!
Glaw’s team searched for five tense days. Finally, some group members spotted more than a dozen Voeltzkow’s chameleons—three males and 15 females. But the important find didn’t come in an out-of-the-way jungle. The reptiles were hiding in plain sight: in a hotel courtyard!
“It was a special mixture of great pleasure, excitement, and relief,” Glaw told the nonprofit conservation group Mongabay.
Last fall, the team released their data in the journal Salamandra. The report contains some surprises. Centuries-old specimens already showed males of the rare species to be bright green. But no one had ever recorded a female’s appearance. Turns out, the flashy female Voeltzkow’s chameleon sports multi-colored skin. Researchers also now know that the female chameleon displays especially colorful patterns during pregnancy, when confronting males, and when stressed.
The re-discovery puts the concealed chameleon on a uncommon list. So-called Lazarus taxa are species that scientists believed were extinct—until they show up again after many years. The reference is to the biblical Lazarus. The parallel isn’t perfect. After all, these chameleons weren’t deceased, only hiding. Still, imagine glimpsing a creature you thought to be dead walking (or slithering or swimming) toward you!
Already-found Lazarus taxa include the coelacanth (pronounced SEEL-uh-canth) fish, Wallace’s giant bee, a dragon lizard, a pitcher plant, and the small, deerlike chevrotain.
Scientists believe as many as 1,200 Lazarus taxa species may still be in hiding. Keep your eyes open—you could make the next rare animal re-discovery!
1st comment
Wow! No one had seen one for 100+ years!
lol
i told my mom about this and she said "its almost a dragon!"
lol
i told my mom about this and she said "its almost a dragon!"
lol
i told my mom about this and she said "its almost a dragon!"
Wait!
Wait! These chameleons have been hiding for years?!
What is it?
Is it undead? or really good at cameo?
an extinct animal is back
thats cool! i dont know what id do if i saw a group of extinct animals in a parking lot!
chameleons
that's funny that chameleons were hiding in a hotel
SO COOL!!!!!
I've always wanted a pet chameleon... I LOVE reptiles! I have a bearded dragon named Newt tho! That's awesome that they found one!
That is really cool
That is really cool
@Above
Interesting!!! Here I am........ and now I'm not!
the chamilan
thats pretty cracked
Those animals are pretty cool
Those animals are pretty cool!!!!!!
those animals are pretty
those animals are pretty cracked!!!!!!!
Wowwww
Hide and seek champion of 2021
16th comment!
How in the world did they hide in plain sight for so long! I can't believe no one rediscovered them before now!
I love dragons...
And I noticed the Bible indicates that dragons (The legendary type) actually existed. Check out Job 41;19-21.
"Out of his mouth go burning torches; Sparks of fire leap forth. Out of his nostrils, smoke goes forth, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes forth from his mouth." I just wanted to point that out, even though some might find me crazy
for saying this, but it's the truth! The Bible DOES indicate the existance of dragons. I just put in the verse, too.
Sneaky Chameleon Shows Itself
Wow, you would think the people who worked at the hotel would have noticed. But maybe they just thought it was an ordinary chameleon.
cool !!!
cool !!!