Cryopreservation of spermatozoa in different species of chameleons

Abstract

Cryopreservation offers significant potential for the conservation of genetic diversity, particularly in rare or endangered species such as chameleons. ARTs, or “Assisted Reproductive Technics” while common in mammals, are rare in reptiles and research on them is often not conducted as deemed less important, and/or less relevant. As far as we know, this is the first attempt to the cryopreservation of chameleon spermatozoa. Researches have been attempted on other reptilian species like the crocodilians and in snakes to try and lead the way to an increased level of research on this particularly interesting field of reptilian reproduction. But the lack of research on chameleons themselves made this study all the more challenging.