Brookesia brygooi

Brookesia brygooi
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Infraclass: Lepidosauromorpha
Superorder: Lepidosauria
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Infraorder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Brookesia
Species: B. brygooi
Binomial name
Brookesia brygooi
Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995

Brookesia brygooi, commonly known as the leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to Madagascar. It was first described in 1995 by Raxworthy and Nussbaum and named in compliment to Édouard-Raoul Brygoo.[1]

Conservation status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classed this species as Least Concern.

Distribution and habitat

Brookesia brygooi is endemic to southwestern Madagascar, where its type locality is Analavelona, Fianarantsoa Province, south-central Madagascar.[2] Because it is widespread and commonly found in protected areas, it was listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It can be found at elevations between 20 and 571 m (66 and 1,873 ft) above mean sea level (AMSL), and over an area of 147,782 square kilometres (57,059 square miles).[3] Details about the true population of B. brygooi are unknown, although it is known to be widespread.[3] It is found in many protected parks/areas/nature reserves, and is also protected under the Madagascar laws.[3]

Description

Brookesia brygooi has an "unusual" shape of body and is earthy in colour.[4]

Diet

Its diet includes insects.[4]

Behavior

It spends the night resting on twigs.[4]

Reproduction

The female of Brookesia brygooi lays two to five eggs per clutch. The eggs measure 2.5 by 1.5 mm (0.098 by 0.059 in) each.[4]

Taxonomy

It was initially described by Raxworthy and Nussbaum in 1995 under the name of Brookesia brygooi. The same scientific name was later used by Necas in 1999, and, most recently by Townsend et al. in 2009.[2] According to the ITIS, the taxonomic status of B. brygooi is valid.[5] It is commonly known as the leaf chameleon.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Brookesia brygooi, p. 41).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Brookesia brygooi | The Reptile Database". Reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Brookesia brygooi (Brygoo's Leaf Chameleon)". Iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Brygoo’s chameleon videos, photos and facts - Brookesia brygooi". ARKive. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  5. ↑ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Brookesia brygooi ". Itis.gov. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  6. ↑ "Leaf Chameleon (Brookesia brygooi ), Central-South Madagascar | UNEP/GRID-Arendal - Environmental Photo Library". Grida.no. 2011-12-29. Retrieved 2012-11-12.

Further reading