Annual Chameleon

Researchers in Madagascar have determined that Labord's chameleon (Furcifer labordi) live for only about 4 - 5 months. They all hatch in November and die some time in March or April. They are an annual species whose population turns over every year.

Photo source: National Geographic





















The chameleon actually lives longer than that. But they spend 8 - 9 months inside the egg before emerging to eat, mate, and die. They have no juvenile stage. They skip straight from hatchling to adult. Though it would be nice to skip the teenage phase (for the parents at least), it wouldn't be so cool to have everyone I know, the entire species, die off en masse. But, c'est la vie.

I've known some people like this chameleon. They spend more time incubating than 'living', and by the time they are ready to get started, their time is almost up. On the other hand, I've also known people who have it together early on and are ready to carpe diem.

Thanks for the article, Ida.