Brookesia lambertoni

Brookesia lambertoni
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (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. lambertoni
Binomial name
Brookesia lambertoni Brygoo & Domergue, 1970

Brookesia lambertoni, the Fito leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleons 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.

Distribution and habitat

The Fito leaf chameleon is endemic to Fito, Toamasina, Madagascar, and its type locality is Fito.^[1] The species' common name, Fito leaf chameleon is ambiguous, and does not explain if it is referring to the forest or the administrative area or the town, both of which are named Fito. Recent surveys have not found the species. The area where the species can be found is unknown and any extrapolation is impossible, because only two specimens have been found and recorded.^[2] Both specimens collected before 1921.^[3] It was found an area affected by the slash-and-burn method of agriculture, although no threats can be confirmed. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed this species as Data Deficient, as not enough information has been collected to determine its conservation status.^[3]

Taxonomy

This species was initially described by Brygoo and Domergue in 1970 as Brookesia lambertoni, which is still its name. However, it is more commonly known simply as the Fito leaf chameleon.^[1]

References