Canopy chameleon explained

The canopy chameleon (Furcifer willsii), also known commonly as Wills's chameleon or incorrectly as Will's chameleon,^[1] is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. The species was originally described by Albert Günther in 1890.

Etymology

The specific name, willsii, is in honour of English ornithologist Rev. James Wills (1836–1898), who was a missionary in Madagascar from 1870 to 1898.^[2]

Geographic range and habitat

Furcifer willsii is endemic to east-central and northeastern Madagascar, along with an isolated range in the north-central part of the island. The type locality of west Imerina Imady, in a forest region.^[3] The species can be found at between 600and above sea level and is estimated to be found over an area of 100350sqkm.^[4] Records show that this species has been found Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve. F. willsii may have been sighted once in western Madagascar at Ankarafantsika National Park, although this observation has not been verified as of 2007. Reports from Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve are uncertain: they may be of F. willsii, F. petteri, or a similar, undescribed species.

Conservation status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) believe that the population of the canopy chameleon is declining. However, it is rated as Least Concern as there is not enough evidence that this species is declining fast enough to become endangered or threatened. Furcifer willsii is threatened by agricultural clearance and logging.

Furcifer willsii is an arboreal species often found high in the canopy mostly in humid forests. It seems to be able to adapt to degraded habitats at the edge of native forests. Large numbers of this species were exported from Madagascar between 1989 and 1993 before the trade from Madagascar was banned by the CITES multilateral treaty.

Description

Furcifer willsii is green and white in colour,^[3] sometimes with a hint of brown along the back and head.^[5]

Reproduction

F. willsii is oviparous.^[3]

Taxonomy

Furcifer willsii was initially described in 1890 by Albert Günther as Chamaeleon willsii. In 1986, it was transferred to the genus Furcifer by Charles Klaver & Wolfgang Böhme.^[6] It is commonly known as the canopy chameleon.^[7]

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. .
• Günther A (1890). "Tenth contribution to the Knowledge of the Fauna of Madagascar". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Sixth Series 5: 69-72. ("Chamæleon Willsii ", new species, p. 71 + Plate VI).

Notes and References

1. Web site: Will's [sic] chameleon (Furcifer willsii)]. www.arkive.org. Arkive. 21 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140305004717/http://www.arkive.org/wills-chameleon/furcifer-willsii/. 2014-03-05. dead.
2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Furcifer willsii, p. 287).
3. Web site: Furcifer willsii | The Reptile Database . Reptile-database.reptarium.cz . 1946-08-21 . 2012-11-11.
4. Web site: Furcifer willsii Encyclopedia of Life . Eol.org . 2012-11-11.
5. Web site: Canopy Chameleon (Furcifer willsii) . wildherps.com . 2007-04-24 . 2012-11-11.
6. Book: Böhme, Wolfgang.

   de:Wolfgang Böhme (Zoologe)

   . Klaver, Charles J. J.. Das Tierreich — The Animal Kingdom: A Characterization and Compilation of the Recent Animal Groups. 3 December 2012. 1997. Berlin and New York: Walter de Gruyter. 978-3-11-015187-9. 22.
7. Web site: Canopy Chameleon . Cites.org . 2012-11-11.