Chameleons are well known for their ability to hide from predators. But they weren't able to hide from NASA, which helped researchers discover seven previously unknown species in Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa.

The NASA-funded study -- which successfully predicted the geographic distribution of 11 known chameleon species in Madagascar -- used a computer model combined with satellite data from NASA and other agencies, and data from museum collections about where species have been found in the past.

The study appears in a mid-December 2003 issue of Nature and offers a method that may be applied to other species around the world. Predicting the distribution of species is one of the most important and tools for effective conservation, as well as ecological and evolutionary research.

Usually scientists had to physically visit a locale and painstakingly find and count species. Now this new technique can be used for poorly explored regions with diverse climates and habitats. Scientists with limited budgets also will benefit.

CREDIT: Christopher J. Raxworthy