Brookesia therezieni

Brookesia therezieni
Conservation status
Least Concern  (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. therezieni
Binomial name
Brookesia therezieni Brygoo & Domerque, 1970

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

Distribution and habitat

Endemic to east Madagascar, Brookesia therezieni is found in the geological type locality of the species, Périnet, which is why it is known as the Perinet leaf chameleon.^[1] It is also found in the east-central area of Madagascar: An'Ala, Ankeniheny, Andasibe, Anjanaharibe, Mantadia, and Imerimandroso. It can be found at elevations between 900 and 1,500 m (3,000 and 4,900 ft) above mean sea level, and is estimated to be found over an area of 30,444 km² (11,754 sq mi).^[2] The International Union for Conservation of Nature has ranked B. therezieni as Least Concern on its Red List of Threatened Species, as it is found on a too large area to be concerned about and evidence is insufficient to indicate the number of specimens is declining quickly. However, the population is declining and their numbers have decreased.^[3]

Taxonomy

Brookesia therezieni was first described by Brygoo and Domerque in 1970. According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, the taxonomic status of this species is valid.^[4] It is commonly known as the Perinet leaf chameleon.^[1] Since it was initially described in 1970, B. therezieni has been described three further times: Glaw and Vences in 1994: 239, Necas in 1999: 277, and, most recently, Townsend et al. in 2009.^[1]

References