Brookesia betschi explained

Brookesia betschi, commonly known as Blanc's leaf chameleon^[1] or the Marojejy leaf chameleon, is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.

Taxonomy

B. betschi was originally described by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo, Charles Pierre Blanc and Charles Antoine Domergue in 1974.^[2] The type specimen was collected in 1973, at 1300m (4,300feet) in a forest in Marojejy.^[3]

Etymology

The specific epithet, betschi, honours French biologist Jean-Marie Betsch.^{[4] [5]}

Geographic range and habitat

B. betschi is found in forests of northern Madagascar at altitudes of 1150to.It is found in subhumid forests in the Manongarivo Reserve,^[6] the Anjanaharibe-Sud Reserve,^[7] Marojejy National Park and the Tsaratanana Reserve, as well as in forests between them, over a total area of 11090sqkm.

Conservation status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the Marojejy leaf chameleon as Near Threatened due to the loss of rainforest in northern Madagascar. This species has very specialised microhabitat requirements and does not tolerate disturbance. It is threatened by destruction of the forest for agriculture by slash and burn and logging. Although its range is fragmented into a number of separate blocks, each one is thought to be large enough to support a viable population.

Behaviour

The Marojejy leaf chameleon is diurnal, spending the day searching through leaf litter for insects and other small invertebrates. If it is disturbed, it remains motionless, relying on its cryptic colouration to provide camouflage. It perches on low trees and plants at night, when it is most easily spotted.^[8]

Reproduction

B. betschi is oviparous.^[9]

Further reading

• Glaw F, Vences M (2006). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Third Edition. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag. 496 pp. .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Brookesia betschi - Animals . AnimalsABC . 2012-11-10.
2. Web site: ITIS Standard Report Page: Brookesia betschi . www.itis.gov. 2012-11-10.
3. Book: Klaver, Charles J.J.. Böhme, Wolfgang.

   de:Wolfgang Böhme (Zoologe)

   . Das Tierreich — The Animal Kingdom: A Characterization and Compilation of the Recent Animal Groups. 10 November 2012. 1997. Berlin and New York: Walter de Gruyter. 978-3-11-015187-9. 2.
4. ((Brygoo É-R)), Blanc CP, Domergue CA.

   de:Édouard-Raoul Brygoo

   .

   fr:Charles Domergue

   . Notes sur les Brookesia de Madagascar. VII. Brookesia du Marojezy. B. betschi et B. griveaudi n.sp. (Reptilia, Squamata, Chamaeleonidae). Bulletin de l'Académie malgache. 1974. 51. 1. 167–184. (Brookesia betschi, new species). (in French).
5. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Brookesia betschi, p. 24).
6. Rakotomalala D (2002). "Diversité des reptiles et amphibiens de la Réserve Spéciale de Manongarivo, Madagascar ". Boissiera 59: 339-358. (in French).
7. [:fr:Christopher John Raxworthy|Raxworthy CJ]
8. Web site: Brookesia chameleons of Madagascar. WildMadagascar.org. 2012-11-26.
9. www.reptile-database.org.