Buccal swabs as an effective alternative to traditional tissue sampling methods for DNA analyses in Chamaeleonidae

Conservation of wildlife often depends on high quality molecular data to establish reliable species identification. Traditional approaches in extracting material (DNA) for phylogenetic studies on chameleons have relied on removed, euthanized or preserved/museum specimens, while field sampling usually takes the form of tail clippings from living individuals and their subsequent release. In this article, we propose an alternative to these approaches for field sampling, towards isolation of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA with oral (buccal) swabs, a methodology already been demonstrated as effective in other taxa. Options of sampling, storage, transport, extraction of DNA are presented and the quality and quantity of extracted material (using venipuncture as a positive control) was demonstrated as sufficient for downstream applications, including sequencing thereby presenting a practical field alternative. The advantages and limitations of this minimally invasive and non-destructive method applied to Chamaeleo africanus are further discussed.