Inside the Life of a Chameleon That Dies Every Year

There are over 200 known species of chameleons worldwide, with populations stretching from Africa and Europe to the Middle East and Madagascar. Interestingly, nearly half of the world’s chameleon species can be found only on Madagascar! This is likely due to Madagascar’s diverse environments, ranging from drastic seasonal changes and varied habitats to dramatic weather patterns. Because of this, many unique creatures have evolved on the island that can’t be found anywhere else in the world—including Labord’s chameleon. This unusual reptile has an unbelievably short life cycle. Essentially, the entire species dies off each year, only to reappear in full force months later to start over again!

A Reptile Like No Other

Labord’s chameleons (Furcifer labordi) are relatively small, with males reaching a maximum length of around 5.5 inches. These unique reptiles get their name from Jean Laborde, a French adventurer who became friends with Queen Ranavalona I of Madagascar. Labord’s chameleons are usually grayish-brown or green. However, both males and females can change color and display vibrant hues with spots or stripes. They change color for many reasons, including communication, regulating their body temperature, camouflage, and attracting mates during the breeding season. Males also have a distinct horn-like growth (or rostral appendage) near their nostrils, which may also serve to attract females.

Home Sweet (Seasonal) Home

Labord’s chameleons make their homes in the deciduous forests of southwestern Madagascar. This region experiences dramatic seasonal shifts, with a hot, rainy season followed by a noticeably cooler dry season. The chameleons thrive during Madagascar’s rainy season. However, as the weather transitions from the rainy season to the dry season, the chameleons begin to fall from the trees, quite literally dropping dead! Male chameleons, in particular, lose weight shockingly fast — about 1 gram every three days. The chameleons move more slowly, and their grip strength weakens, which is why they suddenly fall to the ground.

When scientists examined the dead chameleons, they found no obvious signs of injury or disease. The reptiles were simply dying, and the only clue was their thin, emaciated bodies. By the end of March, the adult Labord’s chameleons had usually died off. Yet, when the rainy season returned, Labord’s chameleons suddenly reappeared!

The Bizarre Life Cycle of Labord’s Chameleon

Labord’s chameleon is truly unique—not just among chameleons, but among all reptiles, birds, and mammals known to science. Labord’s chameleons typically only live for four to five months. They are the only known tetrapod (four-legged vertebrate) with such an extreme, regular annual semelparous life cycle in the wild, which means they typically put all their energy into reproducing just once during their entire lives.

After mating, male chameleons begin to die off in large numbers. The females bury 11 to 12 tiny eggs in the soil and then, just like the males, they also die. So, for most of the year (eight to nine months), there are no living adult Labord’s chameleons on the island—only their eggs remain until the next rainy season. Then, in November, all the eggs hatch with the beginning of the rainy season. The tiny chameleons immediately begin eating as much as they can, making the most of their incredibly short lifespans. Within just two months, these young chameleons grow into fully mature adults, ready to mate and lay eggs themselves. Then they die, and the cycle starts over again.

Why Labord’s Chameleons Live Fast and Die Young

Scientists are still uncovering the secrets of Labord’s chameleon, but its super short lifespan is likely linked to dramatic environmental changes in southwestern Madagascar. These chameleons flourish during the hot, rainy season but would have a rough time surviving in the cooler, drier season.

In areas with more consistent rainfall and less extreme seasonal change, Labord’s chameleons can live a bit longer, and in rare cases, some females even reproduce more than once. Researchers even found one female chameleon that managed to live through the dry season and survive until the following rainy season. Additionally, when researchers took a few Labord’s chameleons out of the wild and cared for them in captivity, the chameleons lived longer than their wild relatives. In captivity, some Labord’s chameleons have lived up to 1.3 years, much longer than their typical four- to five-month lifespan in the wild.