Swartberg dwarf chameleon

The Swartberg dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion atromontanum) is a species of chameleon endemic to South Africa.[4]

Swartberg dwarf chameleon
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Bradypodion
Species:
B. atromontanum
Binomial name
Bradypodion atromontanum
Branch, Tolley, & Tilbury, 2006[3]

Taxonomy

For many years a dwarf chameleon of undetermined taxonomic status was known from the Swartberg area. A subsequent phylogenetic study resulted in its description as a new species. Morphologically it can be confused with B. gutturale but the two species are allopatric.[3]

Description

It is a small chameleon not exceeding 12 cm. It is usually a pale yellow/brown with greenish hues.[5]

Distribution

It is endemic to the Swartberg mountains, Western Cape, South Africa.[4] It occurs in the Swartberg Nature Reserve.[3] It is also found at Groot Swartberg.[5]

Habitat

Swartberg dwarf chameleon is arboreal and inhabits mountain fynbos habitat.[3]

References
  1. Tolley, K.A. (2018). "Bradypodion atromontanum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T42678970A115667055. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T42678970A115667055.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. Branch, William R.; Tolley, Krystal A.; Tilbury, Colin R. (2006). "A new dwarf chameleon (Sauria: Bradypodion Fitzinger, 1843) from the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa". African Journal of Herpetology. 55 (2): 123–141. doi:10.1080/21564574.2006.9635545. S2CID 85304810.
  4. Bradypodion atromontanum at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 September 2020.
  5. "Swartberg Dwarf Chameleon - Bradypodion atromontanum". Tyrone Ping. Retrieved 2020-11-18.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.