Nikole Schneider
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chameleonologist.bsky.social
Nikole Schneider
@chameleonologist.bsky.social
PhD Candidate | University of South Dakota
🦎 Interested in biomechanics, morphology, and all things chameleon
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
November 28, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
The first digital anatomical atlases of the chameleon skull, nervous system & cranial & hyolingual muscles are published, including lesson plans to bridge a gap between theoretical knowledge & hands-on analysis in comparative anatomy
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
November 17, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
A study finds that chameleons have longer & more coiled optic nerves than other squamates & known tetrapods, providing slack & reduced strain during extensive eye rotation characteristic of chameleon eyes, & providing an excellent historical review of our knowledge.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 10, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
Do you know IOB co author Noah Gripshover ?
He has #ecology and #evolution, particularly in the #evolution of feeding.
& co authored
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
& see
#SICB YouTube's
youtu.be/N5rL8I2y-UY?...
&
ngripshover.wixsite.com/research
October 24, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
A reevaluation of chameleon foraging mode using movement- & attack-based indices. Chameleons spent most of the day in stationary positions & fed more when stationary than when moving, suggesting they should be considered ambush foragers rather than "cruise foragers".
academic.oup.com/cz/advance-a...
September 20, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
Some nice coverage on our new chameleon and salamander feeding paper: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujjq...
Ballistic Tongues: How do they do that? | The Bat Signal
YouTube video by Dan Riskin
www.youtube.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
Chameleons & salamanders evolved a sliding-based linear actuator to launch the tongue via muscular squeezing of a tapered skeletal rod, contrasting with tendon-driven pulling mechanisms common in most musculoskeletal systems, allowing acceleration along a straight path.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
August 28, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
Y’all!!! Our comparative anatomy textbook is out!!! Free, open access, and just in time for the fall semester!
New Comparative Anatomy Textbook! Completely free to read and open access!

doi.org/10.59319/YHF...
July 31, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
A clutch of Bradypodion cf. melanocephalum “Hilton” born in the lab today! Immediately getting some metabolic rate data from them to follow through ontogeny! Have also been getting metabolic rate data from the mother for the last 3 months and will continue as she recovers from birth as well!
July 26, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
Happy 2nd annual International Chameleon Day! May 9th is International Chameleon Day, which was launched in 2024 to highlight the remarkable diversity of chameleon species and shed light on the challenges they face in the wild!
#internationalchameleonday #chameleondaymay9 #chameleonconservation
May 9, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
Thread: A new lab publication explores functional, anatomical and developmental aspects of extreme length change among chameleon hyoid musculature. royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... 1/6
Feats of supercontractile strength: functional convergence of supercontracting muscle properties among hyoid musculature in chameleons | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
The structure of sarcomeres imposes limits to the capacity of striated muscle to change length and produce force, with z-disc and myosin filament interactions constraining shortening. Conversely, supercontracting muscles, hitherto only known among ...
royalsocietypublishing.org
April 4, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Happy to share this new paper written with some awesome people!
Examination of chameleon feeding muscles finds the 2nd supercontracting muscle among vertebrates (1st is chameleon tongue retractor muscle) allowing force exertion over a broader range of muscle lengths than typical striated muscle is capable of.
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
March 27, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
In their recent Perspective, Janneke Schwaner and Ksenia Keplinger point out that achieving gender balance remains a challenge in experimental biology, while also proposing ways to further close the gender gap and foster diversity & allyship

journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
February 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Reposted by Nikole Schneider
I am hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher to study the comparative biomechanics & thermal effects of chameleon feeding! See attached flier for more info & contact me directly with questions! Official job add & application portal: yourfuture.sdbor.edu/postings/41941
December 19, 2024 at 8:40 PM