The Petter's chameleon (Furcifer petteri) is a species of chameleon, which is endemic to northern Madagascar. Furcifer petteri was initially described as the subspecies Chamaeleo willsii petteri by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo and Charles Domergue in 1966, but later transferred to the genus Furcifer and given full species status by Frank Glaw and Miguel Vences in 1994.
Both the specific name, petteri, and the common name, Petter's chameleon, are in honour of French primatologist Jean-Jacques Petter.[1]
Furcifer petteri is endemic to Madagascar. Its type locality is the eastern edge of the Ankarana Reserve, specifically the Ankarana massif (French: Bordure Est du massif de l'Ankarana, Madagascar).[2]
Furcifer petteri is listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because its geographic range only covers an area of 11000sqkm in northern Madagascar, where the remaining forest is in decline. It lives between 120and above mean sea level, where it is threatened by mining, logging for rosewood and charcoal, and fires.
Male specimens are roughly between 16and in total length (including tail), and their main colour is deep green with lateral white stripes and white lips. The female specimens are slightly smaller than the males, and have similar colouration. When the females are excited, they change colours quickly, becoming yellow-lemon with two spots of light blue, and one of red. An average of both genders shows a total length of 16cm (06inches).[3]
Furcifer petteri was initially described as Chamaeleo willsii petteri by Brygoo and Domergue in 1966.[3] It is commonly known as Petter's chameleon.[4] According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, Furcifer petteri is the valid name for this species.[5]