Naturelle leaf chameleon


The naturelle leaf chameleon is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. It was rated as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature on its Red List of Threatened Species. The species was described by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo, Charles Pierre Blanc, and Charles Domergue in 1970.

Etymology

The specific name, karchei, is in honor of geologist Jean-Paul Karche.

Geographic range, habitat, and conservation status

The naturelle leaf chameleon is found in Madagascar in Marojejy National Park centered on the Marojejy Massif. It has only been found at elevations between above sea level. The species can be found over an area of 597 km2, and is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, because of loss of "quality" forest habitat caused by the extraction of richly hued rosewood timber, although the true population of the species has not been determined. The extraction of rosewood is its main threat. It is terrestrial and is found in humid forests at mid- or low-elevation. In the Marojejy National Park, collection of this chameleon, and all others, is illegal.

History

This species was initially described by Brygoo, Blanc, and Domergue in 1970 as Brookesia karchei. This scientific name was later referenced by Glaw and Vences in 1994: 240, Nečas in 1999: 277, Townsend et al. in 2009, and most recently Glaw et al. in 2012.

Description

The female naturelle leaf chameleon measures in snout-vent length, and has a total length of.