Brookesia decaryi

Brookesia decaryi is a species of chameleon, which is endemic to Madagascar, and is ranked as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It was initially described in 1939 by Fernand Angel.[1]

Brookesia decaryi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Brookesia
Species:
B. decaryi
Binomial name
Brookesia decaryi
Angel, 1939

Etymology

The specific name, decaryi, is in honor of French botanist Raymond Decary.[2]

Geographic range

Brookesia decaryi can only be found on the island of Madagascar in Ankarafantsika National Park (Parc National d'Ankarafantsika), northwest Madagascar.[3]

Habitat

B. decaryi can only be found at elevations under 200 m (660 ft) above sea level.[1][3] The species can be found over an area of 1,300 km2 (500 sq mi) – the size of the Parc National d'Ankarafantsika – in dry forest.[3]

Reproduction

Details about the reproduction of B. decaryi are unknown, although "clutch sizes" of between two and five eggs have previously been found.[3]

Behavior

B. decaryi is diurnal (sleeps at night, awake in the day) and sleeps at a mean height of 0.17 metres (0.56 ft), mainly on small plants, logs (fallen), and small trees.

Conservation status

B. decaryi is classed as endangered by the IUCN,[4] and the population is decreasing. It was described by Angel in 1939.[3] It is protected under the laws of Malagasy (Madagascar), although it can be collected, if authorised. However, collection in the Parc National d'Ankarafantsika is not permitted. The spiny leaf chameleon is threatened by wood harvesting, fires, farming, and ranching.[3][5][6]

Common names

B. decaryi is commonly known as Decary's leaf chameleon, the spiny leaf chameleon,[3][7] or Decary's pygmy chameleon.[2]

References
  1. "Brookesia decaryi. The Reptile Database". Reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Brookesia decaryi, p. 67).
  3. "Brookesia decaryi (Decary's Leaf Chameleon)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  4. "Decary's leaf chameleon videos, photos and facts - Brookesia decaryi". ARKive. Archived from the original on 2012-05-10. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  5. "Facts about Decary's Leaf Chameleon (Brookesia decaryi ) - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life. Eol.org. 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  6. Ramanamanjato & Rabibisoa 2002, pp. 98–104.
  7. "Spiny Leaf Chameleons (Brookesia decaryi ), Madagascar , Camouflage c/o Animals Animals - Earth Scenes". Animalsprints.com. Retrieved 2012-11-10.

Bibliography
  • Angel F (1939). "Lézards, Scincidé et Chamaeleontidé nouveaux de Madagascar, des collections R. Decary ". Bulletin du Muséum d'Histoire naturelle 10: 574-577. (Brookesia decaryi, new species, p. 575). (in French).
  • Ramanamanjato J-B, Rabibisoa N (2002) "Evaluation rapide de la diversité biologique de reptiles et amphibians de la Reserve Naturelle Integrale d'Ankarafantsika ". In: Alosno LE, Schulenberg T, Radilofe S, Missa O (editors) (2002). A Biological Assessment of the Reserve Naturelle Integrale d'Ankarafantsika. Washington, District of Columbia: Conservation International. (in French).
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