Words From the Editor

By Christopher V. Anderson


Citation:

Anderson, C.V. (2007). Words from the editor. Chameleons! Online E-Zine, February 2007. (http://www.chameleonnews.com/07FebAndersonWFTE.html)


Dear Chameleons! E-Zine Readers,

Well, this issue has taken longer to release then I’d hoped. The various authors and I have been working hard on refining this issue’s articles to provide up to date information. I think you’ll be pleased.

As usual, I’d like to remind the readers that by clicking the “Contact” tab on the toolbar at the top of the page, you can submit your name to our email notification list so you know when future issues come out, to submit questions, article suggestions, etc. I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t already signed up for the email notifications to do so!

I’d also like to remind everyone that by clicking the “T-Shirts” tab on the navigation bar at the top of the E-Zine page, you can visit our online E-Zine store. Once there, you will be able to shop for various E-Zine and chameleon themed items (direct link: http://www.cafepress.com/chameleonnews). Included in these items are men and women’s T-Shirts, coffee mugs, magnets, a 2007 chameleon calendar and much more! So take a look and boast your chameleon addiction with these chameleon inspired items!

Keep an eye out for new item releases from time to time as we are working on some excellent products for release in the near future. Those of you on the email notification list will receive an email notification of new releases, however.

The first article for this issue is on the stump-tailed chameleons of East Africa. Thomas Hildenhagen has provided an excellent collection of experiences with these animals as well as interesting natural history information. His article will be particularly helpful to anyone interested in identifying different stump-tailed species and those who simply want to see some great photos of these interesting chameleons.

For our second article, Niels Pederson has given us a description of his experiences keeping and breeding Chamaeleo (Trioceros) cristatus in captivity. This fascinating and beautiful species from West Africa has often proven difficult to maintain and acclimate to captivity. I’m pleased to have a description of Niels’ experience with them for this issue.

For those of you who like to build your own enclosures and other chameleon husbandry components, Zerah Morris has provided a Do It Yourself article. In it, he outlines the design and building process of a large outdoor enclosure to free range your chameleons during favorable weather. I’m sure his design will provide many of you with great projects for outdoor habitats.

As most would agree, the topic of supplementation in chameleon husbandry is often misunderstood and unclear. While individual and species variation, as well as a lack of complete research make supplementation a difficult topic, Dr. Matthew Wheelock has written up an overview of calcium supplementation that should help provide keepers with a great deal of insight into their supplementation and feeding routines.

The voting portion of the current photo contest has started. The E-Zine staff has selected 10 photos to be voted on by the readers. Votes will be excepted until March 20th and the winners will be announced in the next issue. First place winners will receive 5 lbs of Wild Eye Reptile Gutload and their choice of any item on the E-Zine’s new online store while the second place winner will receive 2.5 lbs of WER Gutload!

Jason Descamps has provided us with another Q&A section. As usual, online submissions for this section can be sent via the online submission form in the Contact page or directly to Jason at Jason.Descamps@chameleonnews.com.

If you have articles or ideas you'd like to submit for this next or later issues, please contact me about them. Don't be shy, if you have something you'd like to share, I'd love to talk to you about it!



Christopher V. Anderson


Chris Anderson is a herpetologist currently working on his Ph.D. at the University of South Florida after receiving his B.S. from Cornell University. He has spent time in the jungles of South East Asia, among other areas, aiding in research for publication. He has previously traveled throughout Madagascar in search of, and conducting personal research on, the chameleons of the region. He has traveled to over 35 countries, including chameleon habitat in 6. Currently, Chris is the Editor and Webmaster of the Chameleons! Online E-Zine and is studying the kinematics and morphological basis of ballistic tongue projection and tongue retraction in chameleons for his dissertation. Chris Can be emailed at Chris.Anderson@chameleonnews.com or cvanders@mail.usf.edu.

 

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