Spiny leaf chameleon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spiny leaf chameleon |
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Brookesia
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decaryi
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The Brookesia decaryi is a special kind of chameleon. It lives only on the island of Madagascar. This tiny chameleon is also known as Decary's leaf chameleon, spiny leaf chameleon, or Decary's pygmy chameleon. Scientists first described it in 1939. Today, it is an endangered species, meaning it is at risk of disappearing forever.
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What's in a Name? The Decary's Leaf Chameleon
The scientific name for this chameleon is Brookesia decaryi. The second part of its name, decaryi, honors a French botanist named Raymond Decary. He was a scientist who studied plants.
Where Does the Decary's Leaf Chameleon Live?
This amazing chameleon lives only in one place in the world. You can find it on the island of Madagascar. Specifically, it lives in the Ankarafantsika National Park in northwest Madagascar. This park is a protected area for many unique animals and plants.
Home Sweet Home: The Chameleon's Habitat
The Decary's leaf chameleon prefers to live in dry forests. It stays in areas that are not very high up. These chameleons are found at elevations below 200 meters (about 656 feet) above sea level. The area where they live covers about 1,300 square kilometers (about 500 square miles). This is the size of the Ankarafantsika National Park itself.
Life Cycle: How Decary's Leaf Chameleons Reproduce
Like many reptiles, the Decary's leaf chameleon lays eggs. This means it is an oviparous animal. We do not know many details about how they reproduce. However, scientists have found that a female chameleon can lay between two and five eggs at a time.
Daily Life: How Decary's Leaf Chameleons Behave
The Decary's leaf chameleon is a diurnal animal. This means it is active during the day and sleeps at night. When it sleeps, it usually rests on small plants, fallen logs, or small trees. They typically sleep at a height of about 0.17 meters (about 0.56 feet) off the ground.
Protecting the Decary's Leaf Chameleon
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Decary's leaf chameleon as an endangered animal. This means its population might be getting smaller. The laws in Madagascar protect this chameleon. It is usually not allowed to collect them from the wild. Collecting them from the Ankarafantsika National Park is strictly forbidden.
Threats to Their Survival
Several things threaten the survival of the spiny leaf chameleon. These include people cutting down trees for wood. Fires in the forest also harm their homes. Farming and ranching activities can also destroy their habitat. Protecting their forest home is very important for these unique chameleons.
