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Brookesia

Brookesia

Languages: English

Description

Behaviour

The 26 currently recognized species of Brookesia typically dwell and forage on the ground, often within the leaf litter on the floor of rainforest and dry deciduous forest, and climb at night to low perches in the vegetation for sleeping. They are characterized by a typically dull brown or (rarely) greenish colour, a short non-prehensile tail that is used as “fifth leg” in walking [Boistel R, Herrel A, Daghfous G, Libourel P-A, Boller E, et al. (2011)]. 

[Glaw F, Köhler J, Townsend TM, Vences M, 2012]

Author(s): Glaw F, Köhler J, Townsend TM, Vences M
Rights holder(s): Glaw F, Köhler J, Townsend TM, Vences M

Ecology

Distribution

Most species of Brookesia have very small distribution ranges [Raselimanana AP, Rakotomalala D (2003) ], [Raxworthy CJ, Nussbaum RA (1995)]; indeed, almost 50% of the species are known from single localities [Carpenter AI, Robson O (2005)]. Within Brookesia, both species diversity and levels of endemism are highest in northern Madagascar, and are correlated with elevational and environmental heterogeneity in this area [Townsend TM, Vieites DR, Glaw F, Vences M (2009)].

[Glaw F, Köhler J, Townsend TM, Vences M, 2012]

Author(s): Glaw F, Köhler J, Townsend TM, Vences M
Rights holder(s): Glaw F, Köhler J, Townsend TM, Vences M

Taxonomic Children

Total: 5

Brookesia confidens, Brookesia desperata, Brookesia micra, Brookesia minima, Brookesia tristis

References

AI, C., & O R. (2005).  A review of the endemic chameleon genus Brookesia from Madagascar, and the rationale for its listing on CITES Appendix II. . Oryx. 39, 375-380.
AP, R., & D R. (2003).  Chamaeleonidae, Chameleons. The Natural History of Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
CJ, R., & RA N. (1995).  Systematics, speciation and biogeography of the dwarf chameleons (Brookesia, Reptilia, Squamata, Chamaeleontidae) of northern Madagascar.. J. Zool.. 2335, 525–558.
CJE, M., K H., A G., & R A. (2007).  Herpetofaunal assemblages on seven offshore islands of northwestern Madagascar. . Trop. Zool.. 20, 151-161.
Glaw, F., Köhler J., Townsend TM., & Vences M. (2012).  Rivaling the World's Smallest Reptiles: Discovery of Miniaturized and Microendemic New Species of Leaf Chameleons (Brookesia) from Northern Madagascar. PLoS ONE. 7,
N, D'C., J K., M F., & F G. (2008).  A conservation assessment of the amphibians and reptiles of the Forêt d'Ambre Special Reserve, north Madagascar. . Madagascar Conservation and Development. 3, 44-54.
N, D'C., J S., K G., J D., & C G. (2007).  The first comprehensive survey of amphibians and reptiles at Montagne des Français, Madagascar. .
N, D'C., J S., K G., J D., & C G. (2007).  The first comprehensive survey of amphibians and reptiles at Montagne des Français, Madagascar.. Herp. Cons. Biol.. 2, 87-99.
QMC, B., & SC B. (1987).  A summary of the reptile field survey in the Ankarana massif, Madagascar. Dodo. 24, 61-67.
R, B., A H., G D., P-A L., & E B. (2011).   Assisted walking in Malagasy dwarf chamaeleons.. Biol Lett. 6, 740–743.
TM, T., DR V., F G., & M V. (2009).  Testing species-level diversification hypotheses in Madagascar: The case of microendemic Brookesia leaf chameleons.. Syst. Biol.. 58, 641-656.