| Lesser chameleon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male | |
 | |
| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Chamaeleonidae |
| Genus: | Furcifer |
| Species: | F. minor |
| Binomial name | |
| Furcifer minor (Günther, 1879) | |
 | |
The lesser chameleon (Furcifer minor) or minor chameleon is a species of lizards in the family Chamaeleonidae. It is endemic to Madagascar.
The lesser chameleon lives in a dry arboreal habitat, fragmented by grasslands. Generally it leads a solitary lifestyle, often aggressive towards other members of its own species. They hunt opportunistically. Unlike most chameleons, the female is the more colourful sex, gravid females are adorned with alternating greenish-black and yellow bands and yellow speckling highlighting darker areas. [2] Blue-Violet, Red-black spots adorn each side of its chest, whilst the lower jaw is covered in red. [3] While resting the female has yellowish banding. Males are adorned with shades of brown, black, white and reddish-orange patterning although at display they may adopt a darker black and white banded coloration. The most noticeable feature of the male is the rostral appendage which protrudes from the end of its snout. [2] Males may be up to 24 cm in size whilst females tend to be approximately 16 cm in size. [4]
The lesser chameleon mainly inhabits the arboreal habitat of tapia forest, dominated by the Uapaca bojeri tree, as well as other endemic habitats such as humid montane habitats between the ranges of 1,000 and 1,650 metres above sea level in the region of Madagascar. [1] They have also been known to colonise pastureland as well as coffee and cocoa plantations, and as a result may be more abundant in these locations. [1] [3] The habitat of the species has been fragmented by large swathes of unsuitable savanna grassland. [1]
The species is recorded as being abundant in its unfragmented and undisturbed habitat, with a density estimate of 16.4 per hectare being recorded in these regions. [5]
The lesser chameleon is oviparous, with 4 to 16 eggs laid in a single clutch and in recorded captivity as many as 3 clutches have been known to be laid per year although this number is typically closer to 1 clutch per year. A dissected female contained 12 eggs measuring 12 by 7 mm. [4] The eggs require an incubation time of 8 to 9 months at a constant temperature of 23 degrees Celsius. Sexual maturity is typically reached from between 5 and 8 months. [3] [6]
Once the females have completed the courtship and mating process they will display a new coloration scheme and act extremely aggressively towards males. Gestation requires 2 to 3 months and the chameleon may die during its first egg laying experience due to egg binding. [6]
It is threatened by habitat loss as a result of quartz and tourmaline mining, logging as well as the clearing of its habitat through slash-and-burn techniques for subsistence agriculture. [1] There are signs that it appears to tolerate habitat loss, although there is a lack of basic information on its ecology to support whether these new habitats can be suitable for breeding. [1] There is evidence that collection of the species still occurs in the Itremo region, and although its impact has yet to be studied it is estimated that it is unlikely to be a major threat to populations due to the process being highly localised and in small quantities. [1]
In 1994, CITES reported that 1,257 lesser chameleons had been exported from Madagascar for sale on the western pet market, It was banned for export from Madagascar that same year. [7] The lesser chameleon is currently listed in Appendix II of CITES, limiting trade in this species. [8] Part of its range in Itremo is currently in the process of being protected. [1]
The panther chameleon is a species of chameleon found in the eastern and northern parts of Madagascar in a tropical forest biome. Additionally, it has been introduced to Réunion and Mauritius.
Parson's chameleon is a large species of chameleon in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to isolated pockets of humid primary forest in eastern and northern Madagascar. It is listed on CITES Appendix II, meaning that trade in this species is regulated. While most chameleon species from Madagascar cannot be legally exported, a limited number of Parson's chameleons can be legally exported each year from its native country.
The Malagasy giant chameleon or Oustalet's chameleon is a large species of chameleon which is endemic to Madagascar, but also has been introduced near Nairobi in Kenya. It occurs in a wide range of habitats, even among degraded vegetation within villages, but is relatively rare in the interior of primary forest.
Labord's chameleon is a semelparous species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
The Antsingy leaf chameleon is a species of lizards in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is also referred to as Armoured leaf chameleon.
The jeweled chameleon, also commonly known as Campan's chameleon or the Madagascar forest chameleon, is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to the central highlands of Madagascar, where it is threatened by bush fires and habitat loss.
The brown leaf chameleon or stump-tailed chameleon is a small chameleon found along the eastern coast of Madagascar, as well as the island of Nosy Boraha. Its appearance mimics that of a dead leaf. The taxonomy is in need of revision.
The rhinoceros chameleon is a species of chameleon that gets its common name from its horn-like nose which is most prominent in males. It is endemic to dry forests in Madagascar.
Furcifer balteatus, also known as the two-banded chameleon or the rainforest chameleon, is a species of chameleon that is endemic to Madagascar. It was described by André Marie Constant Duméril and Gabriel Bibron in 1851.
The canopy chameleon, also known commonly as Wills's chameleon or incorrectly as Will's chameleon, is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. The species was originally described by Albert Günther in 1890.
The Antimena chameleon is a species of chameleon that is endemic to southwest Madagascar. It was initially described by French naturalist Alfred Grandidier in 1872.
Furcifer belalandaensis, also commonly known as the Belalanda chameleon or the Sangoritan'i Belalanda, is a species of chameleon that is endemic to Madagascar. It was identified and described by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo and Charles Domergue in 1970. The International Union for Conservation of Nature rated this species as Critically Endangered on their Red List of Threatened Species. The World Wide Fund for Nature is trying to save this species from extinction.
Furcifer tuzetae is a species of chameleon that is endemic to Madagascar. It is only known from its type locality, Andrenalamivola near Befandriana Sud. It was described by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo, Robert M. Bourgat and Charles Antoine Domergue in 1972. The International Union for Conservation of Nature have rated this species as "data deficient".
The Petter's chameleon is a species of chameleon, which is endemic to northern Madagascar. Furcifer petteri was initially described as the subspecies Chamaeleo willsii petteri by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo and Charles Domergue in 1966, but later transferred to the genus Furcifer and given full species status by Frank Glaw and Miguel Vences in 1994.
Furcifer timoni is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
Furcifer verrucosus, also known as the warty chameleon, spiny chameleon or crocodile chameleon, is a species of small reptile endemic to Madagascar. It was first described by Georges Cuvier in 1829.
Calumma crypticum, commonly known as the cryptic chameleon or blue-legged chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in eastern Madagascar.
Calumma brevicorne, the short-horned chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to Madagascar.
Vences's chameleon is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
Voeltzkow's chameleon is a species of chameleon that is endemic to Madagascar. The species was described by Oskar Boettger in 1893, from an adult male specimen collected by A. Voeltzkow.
