Brookesia ambreensis

Brookesia ambreensis
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Infraclass:	Lepidosauromorpha
Superorder:	Lepidosauria
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Lacertilia
Infraorder:	Iguania
Family:	Chamaeleonidae
Genus:	Brookesia
Species:	B. ambreensis
Binomial name
Brookesia ambreensis Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995

Brookesia ambreensis, also commonly known as the Amber Mountain leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to Madagascar. It was initially described in 1995 by Raxworthy and Nussbaum.

Distribution and habitat

Brookesia ambreensis is endemic to Montagne de Ambre National Park (Amber Mountain National Park) in Madagascar, where it has a type locality of the Antomboka River at an elevation between 1,050 and 1,100 m (3,440 and 3,610 ft) above mean sea level.^[1] Currently, specimens of B. ambreensis can be found between 650 and 1,150 m (2,130 and 3,770 ft) above mean sea level over an area of 287 km² (111 sq mi).^[2] The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classed this species as Near Threatened, as there is a future possible threat against it.^[3] If this threat became active, the species could not become Critically Endangered, but it could be listed as an endangered species because it can only be found in one place with a small area. Logging for charcoal is one of the possible dangers to this species of chameleon, along with the collection of various rosewoods.^[3] It can commonly be found in the "rainy season", and the population is currently stable. The species is not currently protected by any laws.^[3]

Taxonomy

Brookesia ambreensis was initially described by Raxworthy and Nussbaum in 1995. Four years later, Necas later described it under the same name: 276, and in 1999 by Townsend et al.^[1] According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), the taxonomic status of B. ambreensis is valid, as of 2012.^[4] The species is part of the Brookesiinae subfamily of chameleons.^[4] It is also more commonly known as the Amber Mountain leaf chameleon.^[3]

References