Palleon lolontany

Palleon lolontany is a species of chameleons endemic to Madagascar. It was first described by Raxworthy and Nussbaum in 1995 as Brookesia lolontany. It was since placed in the genus Palleon when that genus was erected in 2013.[1] The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) rated the species as Near Threatened.

Palleon lolontany
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Palleon
Species:
P. lolontany
Binomial name
Palleon lolontany
(Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995)
Synonyms

Brookesia lolontany

Distribution and habitat

Palleon lolontany is endemic to Mount Tsaratanana (Maromokotro), Madagascar's highest mountain, on the Tsaratanana Massif. Its type locality is Matsabory Lake and Mount Tsaratanana at 2,050 m (6,730 ft) above mean sea level.[2] Currently, P. lolontany specimens can be found between 1,600 and 2,100 m (5,200 and 6,900 ft) in one humid Tsaratanana forest, over an area of 300 km2 (120 sq mi), the estimated size of suitable habitat in Tsaratanana for the species.[3] At the most, the species can be found over an area of 468 km2 (181 sq mi).[4] It is listed as Near Threatened because it is only found at most in 468 square km, and if the slash-and-burn method of agriculture were used, the species would continue to decline in number, making the list of an endangered species. The species is also at risk from logging, although it is up to 2100 m above sea level. Currently, the population is stable.[4]

Taxonomy

Palleon lolontany was described in 1995 by Raxworthy and Nussbaum, but was reclassified as a species in the genus Palleon in 2013.[1]

References
  1. Glaw, F.; Hawlitschek, O. & Ruthensteiner, B. (2013). "A new genus name for an ancient Malagasy chameleon clade and a PDF-embedded 3D model of its skeleton". Salamandra. 49: 237–238.
  2. "Brookesia lolontany | The Reptile Database". Reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  3. "Brookesia lolontany - Overview - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life. Eol.org. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  4. "Brookesia lolontany". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
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