Kofiau
Type: Other
First Produced By: East Bay Vivarium , California Zoological Supply
Aliases: Canary
Issues: N/A
First Produced In: 1996
Availability: Rarest
Last Updated: 2021-12-27
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About
A unique characteristic of Kofiau green trees is their ability to change colors at various times. For some it is only once, for others it could be many times throughout their lives. Not so much with the type 1 animals, more so with the yellow/green wash and the all yellow animals (Type 2 and Type 3). These changes are not as dramatic or as fast as say a chameleon but can take place overnight or over a few days. They can shift from yellow to mustardy yellow with a light green wash and then back to yellow. The amount of green wash can vary in amounts, sometimes it will be almost solid green with no yellow in it. Many keepers have observed them changing colors at different times; seasonally, due to feeding, shed cycles, reproductive cycles, and temperature cycles. It is unknown at this time if the gtps from Kofiau are the only ones to do this or why it happens. [1]
History
The Kofiau Island locality refers to specimens collected off the small Boo island chain to the west of the Sorong peninsula. Little is known about this rather newly discovered locality other than the fact that some adults tend retain their yellow into adult-hood. [2]
The first yellow Kofiau Island chondros are thought to have been brought into the U.S. by Cal Zoo Supply or East Bay Vivarium around late 1996. [3]
Appearance
Head
They typically have bright yellow eyes from hatchling to adult. The throat and ventral scales of the neck display yellow coloration. [4]
Body
Neonates are always born yellow. The neonate dorsal pattern consists of larger, irregularly shaped marks with dots and/or dashes in-between. The dorsal pattern can be broken or connected to form a stripe of sorts. This pattern is typical dark red or burgundy but slowly turns to lavender as ontogenic color change approaches and a few white scales can start to appear lime as well. [5]
Belly
Belly can be white or yellow.
From mid-dorsal to the belly scales there is very little pattern other than a few small spots. [6]
Tail
Neonates tails are usually mottled grey/white with various amounts of burgundy and black. [7]
Controversy
Unfortunately it is a myth that the animals stay yellow and for this reason they are still relatively expensive. There is no guarantee that the animals will remain yellow until the end of their lives. As they age, they often change their color to normal green. There are still enough specimens that stay yellow, but unfortunately you don’t know what that is in advance. There are only young animals on the market. It is assumed that the change in color is not yet complete by the age of 5 and that it not only begins later, but also proceeds more slowly with this species. [8]
When these first started coming into the US they were thought to keep the solid yellow coloration throughout adult hood, and many were sold with this claim attached to them.
As many of these yellow animals developed a green wash or went all green, many buyers felt “taken” and others lost interest because they went green.
Overtime it was discovered by a few die-hard keepers that only a small percentage, maybe 5% or less, would keep their yellow coloration for pife. No one can “guarantee” which one is going to stay yellow. Some will change green/yellow at 16 months, some at 6 yrs. For some females, after one or two reproductive cycles. It is hard to know when they will or if they will change. [9]
Proven Lines
Type 1, Type 2, Type 3
Type 1: Green body with blue dorsal pattern and various amounts of white speckling along the spine. This form is hard to recognize as Kofiau unless you know the importer well or hatched it out yourself. Many of these have been sold as something other than Kofiau and when they are labeled “Kofiau” they are questioned. These typically don’t shift colors as the type 2 and 3 Kofiau’s are known to do. Adult tail coloration is a mottled blue /gray with various amounts of black. [10]
Type 2: Yellowish/green with a light blue to greyish dorsal pattern and various amounts of white speckling along the spine. Sometimes the yellow will turn a mustardy yellow with a slight green hue which some refer to as “dirty birds”. These can shift from darker to lighter shades at various times. Type 2 females can change to a “hormonal blue” when in a reproductive cycle. Adult tail coloration is a mottled blue /gray with various amounts of black. [11]
Type 3: These are the Kofiau that everyone was looking for in the beginning, an all yellow animal from start to finish. They are also the rarest of the three forms. These animals are almost all yellow with small amounts of green scales here and there. The dorsal pattern can be different shades of lavender, grey or white with various amounts of white speckling along the spine. These are typically animals that are six years of age or older and for females, had at least two clutches. This type has been known to shift from yellow to green and back to yellow. Type 3 females can change to a “hormonal blue” when in a reproductive cycle. Adult tail coloration is a mottled blue /gray with various amounts of black. [12]
Related Traits
No known related traits
