Christopher Anderson

Chair, IUCN/SSC Chameleon Specialist Group

Vertebrate Anatomy & Embryology (BIOL 481/581 + L); Physiology of Movement (BIOL 492/792); Field Ecology: Kenya (BIOL 417/517/792); Herpetology (BIOL 434/534 + L); Mechanics & Physiology of Skeletal Muscle Function (BIOL 791); Comparative Physiology (BIOL 428/528 + L); General Biology II (BIOL 153)

My research is broadly focused on understanding physiological and biomechanical systems in an ecological and evolutionary context. In my lab we examine the morphological, biomechanical and physiological mechanisms underlying animal movement in general, and how these mechanisms change through evolution and vary across environments. We apply an integrative approach, often combining laboratory and field studies, to elucidate interactions between an organism’s physiology and their performance, reveal how organisms perform in their natural surroundings, and improve our understanding of the evolution of form and function. Further, while our research generally utilizes non-model organisms, the mechanistic levels we work at are broadly applicable to a wide range of taxa, including humans, and provide insight into broader functional and physiological principles.

Citations listed below are presented in a standardized, modified format for display purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the preferred style and conventions of the faculty member or discipline.

Schneider, Nikole G., Henchal, Nicholas A., Diaz Jr, Raul E., and Anderson, Christopher V.. Feats of supercontractile strength: functional convergence of supercontracting muscle properties among hyoid musculature in chameleons, 20250078. Vol. 292, Iss. 2043 Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2025. (DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2025.0078)
Lindken, Tim, Anderson, Christopher V., Ariano-Sánchez, Daniel, Barki, Goni, Biggs, Christina, Bowles, Philiip, Chaitanya, Ramamoorthi, Cronin, Drew T., Jähnig, Sonja C., Jeschke, Jonathan M., Kennerley, Rosalind J., Lacher, Jr., Thomas E., Leudtke, Jennifer A., Liu, Chunlong, Long, Barney, Mallon, David, Martin, Gabriel M., Meiri, Shai, Pasachnik, Stesha A., Reynoso, Victor H., Stanford, Craig B., Stephenson, P. J., Tolley, Krystal A., Torres-Carvajal, Omar, Waldien, David L., Woinarski, John C., and Evans, Thomas. What factors influence the rediscovery of lost tetrapod species?, 1-18. Vol. 30, Iss. 1 Global Change Biology, 2024. (DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17107)
Garcia, Pablo, Diaz Jr., Raul E., Anderson, Christopher V., Andrianjafy, Tovo M., de Beer, Len, Edmonds, Devin A., and Carney, Ryan M.. Mosquito bite-induced color change in chameleon skin, 353-358. Vol. 54, Iss. 3 Herpetological Review, 2023.
Denny, Kathryn L., Huskey, Steve, Anderson, Christopher V., and Smith, Michael E.. Communication via biotremors in the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus): Part II- Social contexts. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 2023. (DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad084)
Denny, Kathryn L., Huskey, Steve, Anderson, Christopher V., and Smith, Michael E.. Communication via biotremors in the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus): Part I- Biotremor production and response to substrate-borne vibrations. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 2023. (DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad085)
Nash, Michael J., and Anderson, Christopher V.. Furcifer lateralis (Carpet Chameleon). Impact of ultraviolet light on growth, 250-252. Vol. 52, Iss. 2 Herpetological Review, 2022.
Smith, Luke B., Anderson, Christopher V., Withangage, Miyuraj H., Koch, Andrew, Roberts, Thomas J., and Liebl, Andrea. Relationship between gene expression networks and muscle contractile physiology differences in Anolis lizards, 489-499. Vol. 192 Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 2022. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-022-01441-w)
Drown, Rachel M., Liebl, Andrea L., and Anderson, Christopher V.. The functional basis for variable antipredatory behavioral strategies in the chameleon Chamaeleo calyptratus, jeb242955. Vol. 225, Iss. 10 Journal of Experimental Biology, 2022. (DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242955)
Tolley, Krystal A., Tilbury, Colin R., da Silva, Jessica M., Brown, Gary, Chapeta, Yankho, and Anderson, Christopher V.. Clinging to survival: Critically Endangered Chapman's pygmy chameleon Rhampholeon chapmanorum persists in shrinking forest patches, 451-456. Vol. 56, Iss. 3 Oryx, 2022. (DOI: 10.1017/S0030605320000952)
Deban, Stephen M., and Anderson, Christopher V.. Temperature effects on the jumping performance of house crickets, 659-667. Vol. 335, Iss. 8 Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological and Integrative Physiology, 2021. (DOI: 10.1002/jez.2510)
Tegge, Samuel M., Anderson, Christopher V., Smith, Michael E., and Huskey, Steve. The role of hyoid muscles in biotremor production inChamaeleo calyptratus, jeb227603. Vol. 223, Iss. 22 Journal of Experimental Biology, 2020. (DOI: 10.1242/jeb.227603)
Huskey, Steve, Tegge, Samuel M., Anderson, Christopher V., Smith, Michael E., and Barnett, Kenneth. Gular pouch diversification in the Chamaeleonidae, 2248-2261. Vol. 303, Iss. 8 The Anatomical Record, 2020. (DOI: 10.1002/ar.24313)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Roberts, Thomas J.. The need for speed: functional specializations of locomotor and feeding muscles in Anolis lizards, jeb.213397. Vol. 223, Iss. 2 Journal of Experimental Biology, 2020. (DOI: 10.1242/jeb.213397)
Cernanský, Andrej, Herrel, Anthony, Kibii, Job M., Anderson, Christopher V., Boistel, Renaud, and Lehmann, Thomas. The only complete articulated early Miocene chameleon skull (Rusinga Island, Kenya) suggests an African origin for Madagascar’s endemic chameleons, 109. Vol. 10 Scientific Reports, 2020. (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57014-5)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Liebl, Andrea L.. Micrurus alleni (Allen's Coralsnake). Diet, 162-163. Vol. 50, Iss. 1 Herpetological Review, 2019.
Smith, Dustin, Vinci, Joy, Anderson, Christopher V., Ketterlin Eckles, Jennifer, Ridgley, Frank, and Mazzotti, Frank J.. Observations on nesting and clutch size in Furcifer oustaleti (Oustalet's Chameleon) in South Florida, 75-88. Vol. 15, Iss. Special Issue 8 Southeastern Naturalist, 2016. (DOI: 10.1656/058.015.sp808)
Anderson, Christopher V., Fabre, Anne-Claire, and Herrel, Anthony. Anolis roquet (Martinique's Anole). Coloration, 665-666. Vol. 47, Iss. 4 Herpetological Review, 2016.
Anderson, Christopher V.. Off like a shot: scaling of ballistic tongue projection reveals extremely high performance in small chameleons, 18625. Vol. 6 Scientific Reports, 2016. (DOI: 10.1038/srep18625)
Diaz, Raul E., Anderson, Christopher V., Baumann, Diana P., Kupronis, Richard, Jewell, David, Piraquive, Christina, Kupronis, Jill, Winter, Kristy, Greek, Thomas J., and Trainor, Paul A.. Captive care, raising and breeding of the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus), 943-949. Vol. 2015, Iss. 10 Cold Spring Harbor Protocols, 2015. (DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot087718)
Diaz, Raul E., Anderson, Christopher V., Baumann, Diana P., Kupronis, Richard, Jewell, David, Piraquive, Christina, Kupronis, Jill, Winter, Kristy, Bertocchini, Federica, and Trainor, Paul A.. The veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus Duméril and Duméril 1851): A model for studying reptile body plan development and evolution, 889-894. Vol. 2015, Iss. 10 Cold Spring Harbor Protocols, 2015. (DOI: 10.1101/pdb.emo087700)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Higham, Timothy E.. Chameleon anatomy. In The Biology of Chameleons, 7-55. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2014.
Jenkins, Richard, Measey, G. J., Anderson, Christopher V., and Tolley, Krystal A.. Chameleon conservation. In The Biology of Chameleons, 193-216. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2014.
Higham, Timothy E., and Anderson, Christopher V.. Function and adaptation of chameleons. In The Biology of Chameleons, 63-83. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2014.
Anderson, Christopher V., Larghi, Nicholas P., and Deban, Stephen M.. Thermal effects on the performance, motor control, and muscle dynamics of ballistic feeding in the salamanderEurycea guttolineata, 3146-3158. Vol. 217, Iss. 17 Journal of Experimental Biology, 2014. (DOI: 10.1242/jeb.105437)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Van Heygen, Emmanuel. On the sympatry of three Trioceros species in a tropical upland forest in Cameroon, 215-218. Vol. 49, Iss. 4 Salamandra, 2013.
Venesky, Matthew D., Rossa-Feres, Denise C., Nomura, Fausto, de Andrade, Gilda V., Pezzuti, Tiago L., de Sousa, Verônica T., Anderson, Christopher V., and Wassersug, Richard J.. Comparative feeding kinematics of tropical hylid tadpoles, 1928-1937. Vol. 216, Iss. 10 Journal of Experimental Biology, 2013. (DOI: 10.1242/jeb.082040)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Tolley, Krystal A.. Bradypodion occidentale (Hewitt, 1935) Western Dwarf Chameleon. Reproduction/Colour, 40-42. Vol. 59 African Herp News, 2013.
Anderson, Christopher V., and Deban, Stephen M.. Thermal effects on motor control and in vitro muscle dynamics of the ballistic tongue apparatus in chameleons, 4345-4357. Vol. 215, Iss. 24 Journal of Experimental Biology, 2012. (DOI: 10.1242/jeb.078881)
Anderson, Christopher V., Sheridan, Thomas, and Deban, Stephen M.. Scaling of the ballistic tongue apparatus in chameleons, 1214-1226. Vol. 273, Iss. 11 Journal of Morphology, 2012. (DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20053)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Deban, Stephen M.. Ballistic tongue projection in chameleons maintains high performance at low temperature, 5495-5499. Vol. 107, Iss. 12 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2010. (DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0910778107)

Cooper, Etti, McIntyre, Madison G., Tolley, Krystal A., Alexander, Graham J., and Anderson, Christopher V., Acclimation effects on thermal dependence of tongue projection performance in chameleons. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Atlanta, GA. (January 06, 2025)
Glover, Gene N., Curran, Michael J., and Anderson, Christopher V., Lateralization of righting response in arboreal chameleons. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Atlanta, GA. (January 06, 2025)
McIntyre, Madison G., Cooper, Etti, Alexander, Graham J., Tolley, Krystal A., and Anderson, Christopher V., Acclimation effects on cutaneous evaporative water loss in chameleons living in dynamic environments. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Atlanta, GA. (January 05, 2025)
Zeng, Yu, Anderson, Christopher V., and Deban, Stephen M., Ballistic rapting by tongues in salamanders and chameleons. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Atlanta, GA. (January 04, 2025)
Curran, Michael J., and Anderson, Christopher V., Does a chameleon of arboreality conform to typical arboreal chameleon locomotor patterns?. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Atlanta, GA. (January 04, 2025)
Schneider, Nikole G., and Anderson, Christopher V., Mechanisms of a novel feeding strategy in chameleons. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Atlanta, GA. (January 04, 2025)
McIntyre, Madison G., Cooper, Etti, Tolley, Krystal A., Alexander, Graham J., and Anderson, Christopher V., Into thin air: investigating evaporative water loss rates in Bradypodion. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Seattle, WA. (January 06, 2024)
Schneider, Nikole, and Anderson, Christopher V., Muscle activation patterns of multiple feeding strategies in chameleons. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Seattle, WA. (January 03, 2024)
Cooper, Etti, McIntyre, Madison G., Tolley, Krystal A., Alexander, Graham J., and Anderson, Christopher V., Scaling of metabolic rate in African chameleon species. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Seattle, WA. (January 03, 2024)
Even, Cydney J., John, Dakota J., and Anderson, Christopher V., Specializations of the chameleon pectoral and pelvic girdles to differing levels of arboreality. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Seattle, WA. (January 03, 2024)
Curran, Michael, and Anderson, Christopher V., The ups and downs of an arboreal lifestyle: the impact of variable inclines on the kinematics of chameleons. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Seattle, WA. (January 03, 2024)
Schneider, Nikole G., Henchal, Nicholas A., and Anderson, Christopher V., Feats of supercontractile strength: testing for the presence of supercontracting muscle among chameleon hyoid musculature. Presented at the International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology (ICVM), Cairns, Australia. (July 28, 2023)
Slack, Alexis, and Anderson, Christopher V., A 3D puzzle of a human skull from CT scans as a physical model for pre-medical pedagogy. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Austin, TX. (January 06, 2023)
Denny, Kathryn C., Husky, Steve, Anderson, Christopher V., and Smith, Michael E., Communication via biotremors in the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus). Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Austin, TX. (January 06, 2023)
Schneider, Nikole, and Anderson, Christopher V., Kinematics of a direct prey capture feeding strategy in chameleons. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Austin, TX. (January 06, 2023)
Curran, Michael, and Anderson, Christopher V., Locomotor kinematics and performance among syntopic but spatially divergent chameleon congeners. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Austin, TX. (January 06, 2023)
Anderson, Christopher V., Muscle contractile properties as the connection between gene expression, structure, and performance in animal movement. Presented at the Vertebrate Movement Mini-Symposium, Virtual. (November 18, 2022)
Slack, Alexis M., and Anderson, Christopher V., Using µCT scans to create a 3D puzzle of a chameleon skull as an open access pedagogical tool. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Phoenix, AZ. (January 06, 2022)
Schneider, Nikole G., Henchal, Nicholas A., and Anderson, Christopher V., Feats of supercontractile strength. I. Length-tension relationships among chameleon muscles reveal potential ubiquity of supercontracting muscle among hyoid musculature. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Phoenix, AZ. (January 05, 2022)
Henchal, Nicholas A., Schneider, Nikole G., and Anderson, Christopher V., Feats of supercontractile strength. II. Histology clarifies the presence of supercontracting muscle architecture within the chameleon hyoid. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Phoenix, AZ. (January 05, 2022)
Anderson, Christopher V., Reiter, Patrick A., and Roberts, Thomas J., Examining the early stages of adaptive radiation in Anolis roquet from Martinique. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Austin, TX. (January 06, 2020)
Crownover, Lucas A., and Anderson, Christopher V., Diversification patterns and evolutionary drivers in the chameleon axial skeleton. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Austin, TX. (January 04, 2020)
Drown, Rachel M., and Anderson, Christopher V., Does individual performance influence antipredator behavioral strategy choice in chameleons?. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Austin, TX. (January 04, 2020)
Anderson, Christopher V., The conservation status of chameleons (family Chamaeleonidae). Presented at the 4th IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Leaders’ Meeting, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (October 09, 2019)
Crownover, Lucas A., and Anderson, Christopher V., The chameleon (family Chamaeleonidae) axial skeleton in an evolutionary and ecological context. Presented at the International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology (ICVM), Prague, Czech Republic. (July 23, 2019)
Herrel, A, Fabre, AC, Zablocki-Thomas, P, Boistel, R, Measey, G J., Dollion, A Y., Luger, A M., Adriaens, D, Anderson, C, and Tolley, K A., Manual and Tail Prehensile Systems in Vertebrates: Performance and Morphology. Presented at the International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology (ICVM), Prague, Czech Republic. (July 2019)
Smith, Luke, Harishchandra, Miyuraj, Anderson, Christopher V., Zeng, Erliang, Roberts, Thomas, and Liebl, Andrea, Whole transcriptome gene expression and how it relates to muscle performance in Anolis lizards. Presented at the Experimental Biology, Orlando, FL. (April 05, 2019)
Crownover, Lucas A., and Anderson, Christopher V., Exploring axial skeletal function and evolution in chameleons using micro-CT technologies. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Tampa, FL. (January 05, 2019)
Drown, Rachel M., and Anderson, Christopher V., The functional basis for variable antipredator behavioral strategies in Chamaeleo calyptratus. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Tampa, FL. (January 05, 2019)
Smith, Luke B., Miyuraj, Harishchandra, Anderson, Christopher V., Zeng, Erliang, Roberts, Thomas J., and Liebl, Andrea L., Transcriptome gene expression and muscle performance in Anolis lizards. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Tampa, FL. (January 04, 2019)
Palavra, S., Tegge, Samuel, Huskey, Steve, Anderson, Christopher V., and Smith, Michael, Vibrational communication in chameleons: Part I. Specializations for vibration production and detection. Presented at the International Congress of Neuroethology 2018, Brisbane, Australia. (July 2018)
Laslie, K., Hamilton, E., Huskey, Steve, Anderson, Christopher V., and Smith, Michael, Vibrational communication in chameleons: Part II. Behavioral contexts for production of and responses to vibration signals. Presented at the International Congress of Neuroethology 2018, Brisbane, Australia. (July 2018)
Anderson, Christopher, Mechanisms of performance and behavior in chameleons and Anolis lizards. Presented at the Biology Department Seminar, Minneapolis, MN. (October 20, 2017)
Tegge, Samuel, Huskey, Steve, Smith, Michael, Anderson, Christopher V., Barnett, Kenneth, Hamilton, Emily, and Laslie, Kathryn, The behavioral context and mechanism of biotremors in the veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus.. Presented at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Austin, TX. (July 16, 2017)
Huskey, Steve H., Smith, Michael E., Anderson, Christopher V., and Barnett, Kenneth E., Functional diversity of the gular pouch in chameleons: Who gives a hoot!. Presented at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Austin, TX. (July 15, 2017)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Roberts, Thomas J., The need for speed: functional specializations of locomotor and feeding muscles in Anolis lizards. Presented at the Society for Experimental Biology, Brighton, United Kingdom. (July 2016)
Huskey, Steve H., Anderson, Christopher V., Smith, Michael E., and Barnett, Kenneth E., Some chameleons really do "Hear it through the grapevine". Presented at the 11th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Washington D.C.. (June 2016)
Smith, Michael E., Huskey, Steve H., Anderson, Christopher V., and Barnett, Kenneth E., What is all the buzz about? – A novel form of seismic communication found in chameleons. Presented at the XII Congress for the International Society for Neuroethology, Montevideo, Uruguay. (March 2016)
Anderson, Christopher V., Park, Noel R., Jain, Sukrit S., and Roberts, Thomas J., Locomotor and feeding muscles in Anolis lizards are tuned to their functional demands. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Portland, OR. (January 2016)
Park, Noel R., Anderson, Christopher V., and Roberts, Thomas J., Muscle twitch time limits gait dynamics in Anolis lizards. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Portland, OR. (January 2016)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Tolley, Krystal A., Scaling of ballistic tongue projection performance in chameleons. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, West Palm Beach, FL. (January 2015)
Anderson, Christopher V., Do mainland anoles share functional convergence, but not phenotypic convergence with island anoles?. Presented at the Joint Division of Vertebrate Morphology and Comparative Biomechanics (DVM/DCB) Northeast Regional SICB Meeting, New Bedford, MA. (November 2014)
Anderson, Christopher V., Hudson, Derrek S., and Deban, Stephen M., Tongue projection in aquatic and terrestrial environments: the effect of drag on a high-powered ballistic movement. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Austin, TX. (January 2014)
Anderson, Christopher V., Thermal effects on the biomechanics and motor physiology of ballistic prey capture in chameleons. Presented at the Joint Division of Vertebrate Morphology and Comparative Biomechanics (DVM/DCB) Northeast Regional SICB Meeting, New Haven, CT. (October 2013)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Tolley, Krystal A., Contrasting thermal effects on movements powered by elastic recoil and muscle contraction in chameleons living along a temperature gradient. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, San Francisco, CA. (January 2013)
Anderson, Christopher V., Tolley, Krystal A., and Deban, Stephen M., Thermal selection on movements powered by elastic recoil and muscle contraction: contrasting thermal effects in chameleons along a temperature gradient. Presented at the 7th World Congress of Herpetology, Vancouver, Canada. (August 2012)
Deban, Stephen M., Anderson, Christopher V., Larghi, Nicholas P., and Sandusky, Paula, Evolution of elastic mechanisms in salamander tongues. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Charleston, SC. (January 2012)
Anderson, Christopher V., Larghi, Nicholas P., Creemers, Shelby, and Deban, Stephen M., Thermal effects on the performance, motor control, and muscle dynamics of tongue projection in a plethodontid salamander. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Charleston, SC. (January 2012)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Deban, Stephen M., Effects of temperature on in vitro muscle dynamics of chameleon feeding muscles. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Salt Lake City, UT. (January 2011)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Deban, Stephen M., Thermal effects on the performance, motor control, and muscle dynamics of tongue projection in chameleons. Presented at the 9th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Punta del Este, Uruguay. (July 2010)
Sheridan, Thomas, Anderson, Christopher V., and Deban, Stephen M., Scaling relationships of the tongue apparatus of the family Chamaeleonidae. Presented at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, Seattle, WA. (January 2010)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Deban, Stephen M., Effects of temperature on the motor control of chameleon feeding. Presented at the Society of Integrative & Comparative Biology, Seattle, WA. (January 2010)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Deban, Stephen M., Chameleons maintain high-performance tongue projection at low temperature. Presented at the Society of Integrative & Comparative Biology, Boston, MA. (January 2009)
Anderson, Christopher V., and Deban, Stephen M., Temperature insensitivity of chameleon tongue projection: Maintaining performance at low temperature via an elastic power amplifier. Presented at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Montreal, Canada. (July 2008)

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