Life is short

A spotted blue chameleon in Madagascar is keeping the world record for speed among nearly 30,000 species of 4-legged and other spine.

Actually, that's not a record that many of us want to get. According to The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the entire life of the chameleon Furcifer labordi from fertilized stage to the development stage in eggs, hatching, maturity, spawning until their last surviving moment only for a year.

According to scientists, the extremely short life cycle may have caused the chameleon to become the shortest-lived four-legged animal on Earth . In terms of time it is a species that has more butterfly or ink-like characteristics than the reptile, amphibian, bird and mammalian species in terms of classification.

According to Christopher J. Raxworthy, an author of the publication, it is equally amazing that the above chameleon species takes up to two-thirds of their short lifetime in the form of eggs buried in sand. about 16 to 20 weeks for service after hatching.

The Labord male chameleon in Madagascar is ready to mate.It is urgently looking for a partner.(Photo: Bill Love / Blue Chameleon Ventures)

Besides, chameleon performs activities with a synchronous, incubating, growing, mating and dying schedule that is more or less always at times equivalent to the same speed for a year. As a result, 'if you go into the forest in the dry season, all the chameleon populations are just eggs at the time,' said Dr Raxworthy - in charge of reptiles at the American Museum of Natural History. know.

This may seem counterintuitive, but the schedule of chameleon F. labordi is valuable in understanding genes as well as other biological factors that play a role in promoting longevity. Researchers have observed that chameleon not only has a low average life expectancy, but is also a forced annual living species. They must die after a fall in the direction of the sun. That fate is significantly different from the long-term survival of species with four legs.

Kristopher B. Karsten of the Department of Zoology at Oklahoma State University and another author of the publication said: 'There are about 12 species of lizards discovered to be short-lived, including proportions. Relatively individuals die within 1 year. But there are also a few individuals that survive until next year, so the maximum life expectancy of the species is longer than a year '.

But Malagasy geckos are not so lucky, they live in the barren southwest of the island. Dr. Karsten said: 'Once they have lived until the end of the season, they have lived their lives', then they will fall from the tree with grace like autumn leaves. Realizing that the order of departure is part of the chameleon program, researchers can identify specific genes or 'assassination' hormones in lizard cells to find the same gene or hormone. self in human cells and learn them.

The new study also emphasizes the growing application of the so-called life-history hypothesis to trace the history and evolution of life on Earth.

Scientists have recently identified that many important characteristics of animal records are linked; for example, the characteristics of whether or not they look like a fetus and weak like a newborn cat, or they are as early and fluent as giraffes, what is the average size of a litter, speed the degree to which the species reaches sexual maturity, the time gap between the breeding spawns, and the aging rate of the adult.
If trying to improve one of the parameters above, it would cost you to end up at a different point in your life. Steven N. Austad, author of 'Why We Age' and a professor of structural and cellular biology at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center , said: 'One of the most essentials of life's historical hypothesis is existence based on equilibrium'.

'If the number of juveniles increases, the price paid is usually an accelerated aging rate. If a species has a certain factor that helps it live longer, then it must regain its consequences at the beginning of life as low fertility, or even infertility. '

The species of Furcifer labordi spends most of its time in eggs.(Photo: Kristopher B. Karsten)

Selective pressure in the environment pushes the species to this dimension or the other direction of life. An example is if there is a species in which most adult individuals are eaten by an enemy or die of a disease, the best solution is to focus on reproducing early and more often, and without having to worry. about long-term needs like the AND repair system.Therefore, rodents are often very popular with predators everywhere, with a high reproductive rate but a relatively low life expectancy.

For species with relatively high mortality rates, such as giant tortoises, for example, they tend to focus on utilizing the maturity stage with delayed adulthood. Life span is extended.

External catastrophic changes can quickly reestablish a species' survival program. In a new report in the National Academies, the researchers gave evidence that the Tasmanian demon - the largest carnivore - reacted to a deadly infectious tumor. adult children by increasing the level of puberty early in the offspring by 16 times. If an individual is likely to die tomorrow, it is best to start making parents today.

The history of the special life of the labordi Furcifer also seems to originate from the negative adversity and constant changes. The chameleon Furcifer is one of the smallest members of the family, and the adult is often turned into a favorite by birds and snakes. The local climate is also harsh and unpredictable, making the number of individuals survive through a very little rainy season.

Besides, the rainy season begins in November when the chameleon egg starts to hatch mass. The rainy season is very short so it needs to be exploited quickly with the maximum level. The roll lizards immediately started catching insects. According to Dr. Raxworthy, they eat so much that 'they grow up quickly in front of our eyes'.

Until January, Furcifer chameleon is ready to mate. A violent battle between males and each other as well as between the children took place. Although chameleon is a pretty cute looking species, 'they can be very antisocial, if there are others standing around them, they will be willing to fight to their last breath', Dr. Raxworthy to speak.
Dr. Karsten suspected that the fast growing season of chameleon Furcifer labordi promotes a high level of aggressiveness that makes geckos die partially because hormones are too high.