Swartberg dwarf chameleon

Swartberg dwarf chameleon
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
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]

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

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.