Brookesia griveaudi

Brookesia griveaudi
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. griveaudi
Binomial name
Brookesia griveaudi Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1974

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

Distribution and habitat

Brookesia griveaudi is endemic to northeastern Madagascar, and has a type locality of the Marojejy National Park and on the Marojejy Massif, in the region of Sava.^[1] B. griveaudi is found over an area of 21,829 km² (8,428 sq mi), beginning in Masoala (southwards) and ending at Daraina (northwards), and is found at an elevation of 1,350 m (4,430 ft) above mean sea level.^[2] The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed this species as Near Threatened because the population of the species is spread out considerably, despite the area it covers. It is affected mainly by logging and the slash-and-burn method of agriculture. The species is found in many protected places/areas, and the population is believed to be declining.^[3]

Description

During the day, the Marojejy leaf chameleon stays with its young and eggs.^[4]

Taxonomy

The species was initially described by Brygoo, Blanc, and Domergue in 1974, and has been described three times since: Glaw and Vences (1994: 236), Necas (1999: 277), and, most recently by Townsend et al. in 2009. Brookesia griveaudi is commonly known as the Marojejy leaf chameleon, after the type locality of the species.^[1]

References