A reptilian smoking gun first record of invasive

Authors: Brenden S Holland Steven L Montgomery Vincent Costello

Publish Date: 2009/12/25

Volume: 19, Issue: 5, Pages: 1437-1441

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Abstract

Here we report the first conclusive evidence of an introduced reptile Chamaeleo jacksonii feeding on Hawaiian taxa including 11 snails in four endemic genera from two families including four individuals of an endangered species Achatinella mustelina and native insects in five genera Native Hawaiian invertebrates were discovered in the dissected stomachs of wild caught Jackson’s chameleons collected from June to November 2009 on the island of Oahu Although Jackson’s chameleons were introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in the early 1970s ecological impacts have never been documented Of particular concern is the fact that chameleons have previously only rarely been found in native Hawaiian habitat although 12 were recently collected in a midelevation native forest an area that is not likely to be suitable for their longterm persistence but that is adjacent to higher elevation pristine forest where endemic prey are abundant and favorable climatic conditions exist for chameleon persistence One concern is that Jacksons’s chameleons may be undergoing a range expansion into upper elevation pristine forests If chameleons reach and establish populations in these areas devastating impacts to the native ecosystem are possible A thorough understanding of the impacts of chameleons on Hawaiian fauna will require additional evaluation and sampling but dissemination of this discovery in a timely fashion is important as it provides new information regarding this threat Monitoring and collection of chameleons is ongoing particularly in native Hawaiian forest habitats at mid and upper elevations 600–1300 mWe thank Mike Walker and Mandy Hardman for field assistance Joy Browning and Mike Hadfield for discussions and Anita Manning Timothy Pearce and Robert Cowie for helpful comments that improved this manuscript BSH was supported by a grant from the US Army Directorate of Public Works during this study

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