Brookesia exarmata

Brookesia exarmata, also known as the dwarf chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to Madagascar. It was first described by Schimmenti and Jesu in 1996, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classed it as an endangered species of animal.

Brookesia exarmata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Brookesia
Species:
B. exarmata
Binomial name
Brookesia exarmata
Schimmenti & Jesu, 1996

Distribution and habitat

Brookesia exarmata is endemic to Madagascar, where it is only found in its type localities, which is the River Ambodyreana, Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, in west-central Madagascar.[1][2] It can be found over an area of 1,991 km2 (769 sq mi), and the habitat of the species is in decline due to logging and forest fires. B. exarmata can be found at elevations between 100 and 563 m (328 and 1,847 ft) above mean sea level. It is found in a protected area.[3] The IUCN has classed B. exarmata as an endangered species.[3]

Description

The dwarf chameleon is one of the smallest species in the chameleon genus Brookesia. It has a narrow head, and is coloured beige and brown. The species is 45 mm (1.8 in) at full length, with 20 mm (0.79 in) of that being the tail.[2] It sleeps at around 15 cm (5.9 in) above the ground on twigs and/or stems. When threatened, it will stiffen its body and clutch its legs, and then fall to the ground, until it feels safe.[4]

Taxonomy

Brookesia exarmata was first described in 1996 by Schimmenti and Jesu, and was described twice since that year; by Necas in 1999: 277, and most recently, by Townsend et al. in 2009.[1] It is commonly known as the Dwarf Chameleon due to its small size.[2]

References
  1. "Brookesia exarmata | The Reptile Database". Reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  2. "Dwarf chameleon videos, photos and facts - Brookesia exarmata". ARKive. 2011-06-24. Archived from the original on 2009-09-22. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  3. "Brookesia exarmata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  4. "Dwarf Chameleon - Brookesia exarmata - Overview - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life. Eol.org. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
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