Antsingy leaf chameleon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Antsingy leaf chameleon
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Brookesia
Species:	perarmata

The Antsingy leaf chameleon (Brookesia perarmata) is a special type of lizard. It belongs to the Chamaeleonidae family, which includes all chameleons. This amazing creature is also known as the Armoured leaf chameleon because of its unique look.

You can only find this chameleon in Madagascar, a large island country. It lives in the dry forests of the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. For a while, these chameleons were popular pets. This caused their numbers to drop a lot. Now, it is against the law to trade them as pets. Sadly, cutting down trees and damaging their home still threatens them.

Meet the Antsingy Leaf Chameleon

The Antsingy leaf chameleon is smaller than most chameleons. But it is the largest of the Brookesia group, also called dwarf chameleons. They can grow up to about eleven centimeters long. This chameleon has a tail that helps it move around. It uses its tail to grip leaves and branches on the forest floor.

What Makes Them Special?

This chameleon has rows of spiky spines along its back. These spines look like tiny thorns. Its body is usually a dull brown color. This helps it blend in with its surroundings. Like other chameleons, it can change its color. This helps it hide from predators or show off to other chameleons. Female Antsingy leaf chameleons lay eggs, which means they are oviparous.

Where They Live: Their Habitat

This unique chameleon lives in the dry, leafy forests of Madagascar. It spends most of its time on the forest floor. It hides among the dead leaves, using them for perfect camouflage. When it's time to sleep, it climbs onto low plant branches.

Forest Floor Dwellers

The Antsingy leaf chameleon needs a healthy, untouched forest to live. It thrives in places with lots of leaf litter. This is where it finds food and stays hidden. You can find these chameleons at heights of 100 to 430 meters above sea level. They live in the western part of the national park. Some might also live in the nearby Réserve Naturelle Intégrale de Bemaraha.

Why They Are in Danger

The Antsingy leaf chameleon faces many dangers. The biggest threat is the loss of its forest home. Trees are cut down, and their habitat gets damaged. Another big problem was people collecting them to keep as pets.

Past Pet Popularity

These chameleons became very popular pets in the 1980s and 1990s. Many lizard fans wanted to own them. This led to too many being taken from the wild. Even today, some people who love reptiles are interested in them. This makes it harder to protect them.

Protecting the Antsingy Leaf Chameleon

The Antsingy leaf chameleon is an endangered species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed it as Endangered (EN) in 2011. Before that, in 1996, it was listed as Vulnerable (VU). This shows how much their numbers have dropped.

Global Protection Efforts

This chameleon is also listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This means it is against the law to trade them internationally for money. You can only trade them for non-commercial reasons, like for scientific study, and only with special CITES permits. These rules help protect them from being taken from their homes.