veileds veil a resonater

[Wuntu Menny]

Right on the money, Choriona. Trace as well. There are several schools of thought on the function of the casque. An additional theory proposes that the increased surface area helps warm the animal faster after a cool night.

As far as the amplifier theories, let's not forget that chams are effectively deaf therefore the generation of any audible sound is virtually pointless.

WM

[Brock]

I read that these vibrations are defined as 'infrasound' vibrations/communication. There were also some studies that showed the chameleons could pick up on these vibrations for mating reasons, territorial defence and predatory defence. They theorize this is some means of communication, but nothing more than a threat to rivals and courtship ritual to females and what I mention below about Brookesia. Anyone who has bred veileds, including myself, will know that while they are mating, their veils go out of control with vibrating actions, especially (my) female's.

The Brookesia do this only (according to what I read) as a defence from predators. When they are picked up in the mouth of a passing predator, the vibrations give a sensation through the mouth of the predator that they have never felt before, and they are momentarily stunned/confused, dropping the chameleon and letting it escape into the leaf litter. Of course this doesn't always work, but it is a selective trait inherited by those that escaped death by doing this many moons ago and lived to tell about it.

-Brock

[chamitch]

so u guys say its for cooling? does the veil contain alot of blood vessels that suggest this?


peace

[choriona]

same deal as elephantes - the huge thin ears are for cooling the body through cooling the blood temperature.
I would suspect that the veil is full of capillary beds.
As for the vibrations, my male does that when I grab him quickly, but I can feel it in his body too. That would be an interesting defence mechanism. Brock, you should pm me your sources, I'd like to read that.

[Brock]

It's been 1.5 years since I read that information, and I could not for the life of me remember the sites I read them at. Most of it came from discussions on KS and people gave links from there. You can always try a Google search. Sorry.

-Brock