Petter's chameleon
| Petter's chameleon | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Family: | Chamaeleonidae |
| Genus: | Furcifer |
| Species: | F. petteri |
| Binomial name | |
| Furcifer petteri (Brygoo & Domergue, 1966) | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Furcifer petteri, also known as Petter's chameleon, is a species of chameleon that is endemic to north Madagascar. It 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.
Distribution and habitat
Furcifer petteri is endemic to Madagascar, and it has a type locality of the eastern edge of the Ankarana Reserve, specifically the Ankarana massif (French: Bordure Est du massif de l‘ Ankarana, Madagascar).[2] Furcifer petteri was listed as a Vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because it only covers an area of 11,000 square kilometres (4,200 square miles) in northern Madagascar, where the remaining forest is in decline.[1] It lives between 120 and 850 metres (390 and 2,790 feet) above mean sea level,[1] where it is threatened by mining, logging for rosewood and charcoal, and fires.[1]
Description
Male specimens are roughly between 16 to 18 centimetres (6.3 to 7.1 inches) long, 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.[3] An average of both genders shows a length of 16 centimetres (6.3 inches).[4]
Taxonomy
Furcifer petteri was initially described as Chamaeleo willsii petteri by Brygoo and Domergue in 1966.[4] It is commonly known as Petter's Chameleon.[5] According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, Furcifer petteri is the valid name for this species.[6]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Jenkins R. K. B., Andreone F., Andriamazava A., Anjeriniaina M., Brady L., Glaw F., Griffiths R. A., Rabibisoa N., Rakotomalala D., Randrianantoandro J.C., Randrianiriana J., Randrianizahana H., Ratsoavina F. & Robsomanitrandrasana E. (2011). "Furcifer petteri". In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 14 November 2012.
- ↑ "Furcifer petteri | The Reptile Database". Reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ↑ "Furcifer petteri | Pantherchameleon, furcifer pardalis". Pantherchameleon.de. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- 1 2 "Furcifer petteri | Pantherchameleon, furcifer pardalis". Pantherchameleon.de. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ↑ "Petter's chameleon videos, photos and facts - Furcifer petteri". ARKive. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ↑ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Furcifer petteri". Itis.gov. Retrieved 2012-11-11.