Brookesia stumpffi
| Brookesia stumpffi | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Infraclass: | Lepidosauromorpha |
| Superorder: | Lepidosauria |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Infraorder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Chamaeleonidae |
| Genus: | Brookesia |
| Species: | B. stumpffi |
| Binomial name | |
| Brookesia stumpffi Boettger, 1894 | |
Brookesia stumpffi, also known as the plated leaf chameleon (German: Stachelchamäleon), is a species of chameleon found in some parts of Madagascar. It can be found in Nosy Bé, north-west Madagascar, Nosy Komba, and Nosy Sakatia.
Distribution and habitat
Brookesia stumpffi was described and found by Oskar Boettger, a German zoologist, in 1894. The species has been described as Brookesia stumpffi six times, initially by Boettger in 1894. It was later described by Glaw and Vences in 1994: 236, Klaver and Böhme in 1997, Necas in 1999: 268, Pianka and Vit in 2003: 11, and most recently by Townsend et al. in 2009.[2] Glaw and Veneces found the species on small islands of Madagascar away from the main land mass of the country in 2007.[1] The species can only be found in certain parts of Madagascar; it can be found in Nosy Be (sometimes known as Nosy Bé), north-western Madagascar, Nosy Komba, and Nosy Sakatia,[2] and is common in the rainforest. Brookesia stumpffi can be found up to a height of 150 metres (490 feet) above sea level, and can be found over an area of 61,884 kilometres (38,453 miles).[1][3] There are no known major threats to the Brookesia stumpffi, and the species seems to be adaptable to "disturbed habitats".[1] The species is sometimes kept as a pet and domesticated.[4] The species is marked as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.[4]
Description
Brookesia stumpffi can grow up to 9 cm (3.5 in), and has a life expectancy of at least three years. During reproduction, this species of chameleon lays between three and five eggs, which hatch between 60 and 70 days later, provided they are at a temperature of 23 °C (73 °F).[5] They feed on insects such as crickets, fruit flies, cockroaches, wax moths (waxworms), and grasshoppers. During the day, the body temperature of B. stumpffi is between 22 and 25 °C (72 and 77 °F), and is 20 °C (68 °F) during the night.[5] The species is a type of lectotype.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Brookesia stumpffi (Plated Leaf Chameleon)". Iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
- 1 2 3 "Brookesia stumpffi | The Reptile Database". Reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
- ↑ "Facts about Plated Leaf Chameleon (Brookesia stumpffi) - Encyclopedia of Life". Eol.org. 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
- 1 2 "Brookesia stumpffi (Plated Leaf Chameleon)". Iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
- 1 2 "Animals". Lucky Reptile. Retrieved 2012-11-09.