Spiny leaf chameleon

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Spiny leaf chameleon
Brookesia decaryi 2008b.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Brookesia
Species:
B. decaryi
Binomial name
Brookesia decaryi
Angel, 1939 [2]
Brookesia decaryi distribution.png

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). [1] It was initially described in 1939 by Fernand Angel. [3] B. decaryi is commonly known as Decary's leaf chameleon, [1] spiny leaf chameleon, [4] or Decary's pygmy chameleon. [3] [5]

Contents

Etymology

The specific name, decaryi, is in honor of French botanist Raymond Decary. [5]

Geographic range

B. decaryi can only be found on the island of Madagascar in Ankarafantsika National Park (Parc National d'Ankarafantsika), northwest Madagascar. [1]

Habitat

B. decaryi can only be found at elevations under 200 m (660 ft) above sea level. 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. [1]

Reproduction

B. decaryi is oviparous. [3] However, details about its reproduction are unknown, although clutch sizes between two and five eggs have previously been found. [1]

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. [1]

Conservation status

B. decaryi is classed as endangered by the IUCN, and the population might be decreasing. 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. [1] [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Brookesia</i> Genus of lizards

Brookesia is a genus of chameleons, lizards in the family Chamaeleonidae. The genus is endemic to Madagascar. Member species range from small to very small in size, and are known collectively as leaf chameleons. Brookesia includes species considered to be the world's smallest chameleons, and are also among the smallest reptiles. Members of the genus Brookesia are largely brown, and most are essentially terrestrial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antsingy leaf chameleon</span> Species of lizard

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<i>Brookesia peyrierasi</i> Species of lizard

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount d'Ambre leaf chameleon</span> Species of reptile

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<i>Brookesia minima</i> Species of reptile

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<i>Brookesia ebenaui</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia ebenaui is a chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species, which is endemic to Madagascar, can rapidly change color among various earth hues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown leaf chameleon</span> Species of lizard

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.

<i>Brookesia stumpffi</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia stumpffi, also known as the plated leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in some parts of Madagascar. It can be found in Nosy Bé, north-west Madagascar, Nosy Komba, and Nosy Sakatia.

<i>Brookesia betschi</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia betschi, commonly known as Blanc's leaf chameleon or the Marojejy leaf chameleon, is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naturelle leaf chameleon</span> Species of lizard

The naturelle leaf chameleon is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. It was rated as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature on its Red List of Threatened Species. The species was described by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo, Charles Pierre Blanc, and Charles Domergue in 1970.

<i>Brookesia bonsi</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia bonsi is a species of chameleons, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar, and was initially described by Guy A. Ramanantsoa in 1980. The International Union for Conservation of Nature ranked this species as Critically Endangered.

<i>Brookesia brygooi</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia brygooi, commonly known as Brygoo's chameleon, Brygoo's pygmy chameleon, and the leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chameleonidae. The species, which is endemic to Madagascar, was first described in 1995 by Raxworthy and Nussbaum and named in compliment to French herpetologist Édouard-Raoul Brygoo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toothed leaf chameleon</span> Species of lizard

The toothed leaf chameleon, Brookesia dentata, is a species of chameleons endemic to northwestern Madagascar. It was first described by Mocquard in 1900: 345, and has been described numerous times since then, most recently by Townsend et al. in 2009. It is affected by the collection of charcoal, forest fires, and the grazing of cattle. Its holotype provides from Maevatanana (Suberbieville).

<i>Brookesia exarmata</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia exarmata, also known as the dwarf chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to Madagascar. It was first described by Schimmenti and Jesu in 1996, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classed it as an endangered species of animal.

<i>Brookesia griveaudi</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia griveaudi, commonly known as the Marojejy leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to northeastern Madagascar. It was described as a species new to science by Brygoo, Blanc, and Domergue in 1974. It is listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

<i>Brookesia lambertoni</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia lambertoni, commonly known as the Fito leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Fito in eastern Madagascar. It was first described in 1970 by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo and Charles Antoine Domergue. It is rated as Data Deficient (DD) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as not enough data on the species have been collected to judge its conservation status.

<i>Brookesia therezieni</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia therezieni, also known as the Perinet leaf chameleon, is a species of lizards in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to eastern Madagascar. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classed the species as Least Concern. B. therezieni was initially described as a species new to science by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo and Charles Antoine Domergue in 1970.

<i>Brookesia thieli</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia thieli, commonly also known as Domergue's leaf chameleon or Thiel's pygmy chameleon, is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to eastern Madagascar, with a type locality of Ambodimanga, Andapa. It was first described in 1969 by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo and Charles Antoine Domergue, and it was ranked by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as "least concern". B. thieli is thought to be found over an area of 43,865 km2 (16,936 sq mi) at 875–1,200 m (2,871–3,937 ft) above sea level.

<i>Brookesia valerieae</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia valerieae is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. It was first described by Raxworthy in 1991. The IUCN have classed this species as endangered, and it is affected by slash-and-burn agriculture. It is not a protected species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iaraka River leaf chameleon</span> Species of lizard

The Iaraka River leaf chameleon, also commonly known as the mossy pygmy leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jenkins, R.K.B.; Andreone, F.; Andriamazava, A.; Anjeriniaina, M.; Glaw, F.; Rabibisoa, N.; Rakotomalala, D.; Randrianantoandro, J.C.; Randrianiriana, J.; Randrianizahana , H.; Ratsoavina, F.; Robsomanitrandrasana, E. (2011). "Brookesia decaryi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T172885A6935659. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T172885A6935659.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. Angel, F. (1939). "Lézards, Scincidé et Chamaeleontidé nouveaux de Madagascar, des collections R. Decary ". Bulletin du Muséum d'Histoire naturelle (in French). 10: 574–577. (Brookesia decaryi, new species, p. 575).
  3. 1 2 3 Brookesia decaryi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 4 October 2020.
  4. "Spiny Leaf Chameleons (Brookesia decaryi), Madagascar, Camouflage c/o Animals Animals – Earth Scenes". Animalsprints.com. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  5. 1 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).
  6. "Facts about Decary's Leaf Chameleon (Brookesia decaryi) – Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life . Eol.org. 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  7. 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).

Further reading