How Do You Describe a New Species of Chameleon?
Provided by: Mongabay Kids|Published on: September 6, 2026
Grades: 5, 6, 7, 8
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Biology
Authors: Mongabay Kids
Region: Africa, Global
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article walks through the seven steps herpetologist Frank Glaw and his colleagues follow to identify and describe a new species of chameleon, from library and museum research through field expeditions in Madagascar to peer-reviewed publication.
- The article closes with ways young people can help protect chameleons and their forest habitats, including uploading photos to iNaturalist and raising awareness about threats from slash-and-burn agriculture.
Teaching Materials
Classroom Implementation:
- Use the piece to introduce the distinction between discovering an organism and formally describing a species, and have students discuss why peer review matters before a new species is considered official.
Prerequisites
- Consider pre-teaching vocabulary such as type specimen, morphological data, osteological characters, and peer review can be pre-taught or turned into a student-built glossary to support comprehension.
Extensions:
- Have students explore biodiversity in their own region using iNaturalist and reflect on how citizen observations contribute to scientific knowledge.
Climate Change Connections:
- Discuss how climate change impacts biodiversity and emphasize the need for protecting biodiversity, especially when some species are yet undiscovered.
Scientist's Note:
- The steps described in the article can be generalized to describe how scientific research, with fieldwork, is done. This can help readers understand how scientists make new discoveries.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Mongabay Kids
Mongabay Kids is the dedicated youth education initiative at Mongabay, an award-winning nonprofit environmental and conservation news organization. We provide free, age-appropriate news, features, activities, and multimedia resources that inspire curiosity, ecological understanding, and action. Designed for children ages 8-14, families, and educators, Mongabay Kids empowers the next generation to explore, celebrate, and protect the natural world.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
