The Chapman’s pygmy chameleon ( Rhampholeon chapmanorum ) lives only in the lowland rainforest of the Malawi Hills in southern Malawi, an area of which about 80% has been dramatically cut down since 1984.
Fortunately, new research published in Oryx – The International Journal of Conservation has found that these rare chameleons are still clinging to survival in the remaining patches of forest.
“The first one we found was in the transition zone at the edge of the forest, where there are some trees but mainly maize and cassava plants,” said lead study author Professor Krystal Tolley from the South African National Institute of Biodiversity and the University of the Witwatersrand in a press release. “When we found it, we got goose bumps and we started jumping. We didn’t know if we were going to have more, but once we got to the forest there were a lot of them, although I don’t know how long it will last .”
Specifically, the team found 17 adult chameleons in two forest patches in the hills of Malawi, and 21 adult and 11 juvenile chameleons in a patch near Mikundi. It is possible that there are more chameleons in other forest areas that the team could not examine.
The pygmy chameleon is listed on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species as critically endangered.
The researchers suggest including the remaining forest as part of the nearby Matandwe Forest Reserve so that it can be proclaimed a Key Biodiversity Area and introducing strong measures to ensure the protection of these gentle little creatures that can change their hues from brown to blue and pretty striking greens.
Referencia: Clinging to survival: Critically Endangered Chapman’s pygmy chameleon (Rhampholeon chapmanorum) persists in shrinking forest patches, Oryx (2021). DOI: doi.org/10.1017/S0030605320000952
