Rationale
(Changed due to Same category and criteria)
This species has a restricted range, occurring in coastal forests that are naturally patchy, but much of this habitat has been transformed and is severely fragmented. The trend of transformation (both urban and rural) is ongoing (Driver et al. 2012), leading to a decline in extent of occurrence (EOO), area of occupancy (AOO) and quality of habitat. It is likely that the number of mature individuals is also declining due to the habitat transformation. The species is therefore assigned the category Endangered.
Distribution
Has a restricted range and is known only from a few coastal localities in the northeastern parts of the Eastern Cape, South Africa (Tolley and Burger 2007, Bates et al. 2014).
Decline
The region is heavily transformed and impacted by rural agriculture. No patch has >50% of the population.
No information on population size or trend is currently available. The species is severely fragmented as it occurs only in the fragmented forest habitat along the coast, and no patch has more than 50% of the population.
Threats
Occurs within a highly fragmented, vulnerable ecosystem (Driver et al. 2012). This area is heavily transformed, mainly through rural subsistence farming in a densely populated region. Predicted future threats centre around a growing human population and increased pressure for land use, fuel-wood collection and invasion by introduced plants. Only 2.5 km² of the distribution range is under formal protection in the Silaka Nature Reserve.
Uses and trade
There is very little legal trade in this species. CITES reports exports of total only 22 individuals, all from 2010 (UNEP-WCMC 2017).
Conservation
This species is listed in CITES Appendix II. Field surveys need to be undertaken to provide a better estimate of area of occupancy, especially in previously non-surveyed areas. A better understanding of the occurrence of the species with respect to fragmentation of habitat is imperative. Examine populations in fragmented habitats for signs of genetic bottlenecks. This will allow for an understanding of whether the species is able to utilize a series of small land patches and/or corridors, and whether it can thrive in degraded habitat.
[@electronic{181632,
address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
author = {IUCN},
title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-2},
year = {2018}
}
,@techreport{5228,
address = {Pretoria, South Africa},
author = {Driver, A., Sink, K.J., Nel, J.N., Holness, S., Van Niekerk, L., Daniels, F., Jonas, Z., Majiedt, P.A., Harris, L. and Maze, K.},
institution = {South African National Biodiversity Institute and Department of Environmental Affairs},
title = {National Biodiversity Assessment 2011: An assessment of South Africa’s biodiversity and ecosystems. Synthesis Report},
year = {2012}
}
,@book{612,
address = {Pretoria},
author = {Bates, M.F., Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M., Burger, M., Marais, J., Alexander, G.J. and de Villiers, M.S.},
publisher = {Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute},
title = {Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland},
year = {2014}
}
,@book{3009,
address = {Cape Town},
author = {Tolley, K.A. and Burger, M.},
publisher = {Struik},
title = {Chameleons of Southern Africa},
year = {2007}
}
,@electronic{3009,
address = {https://trade.cites.org/},
author = {UNEP-WCMC},
title = {CITES Trade Database},
year = {2017}
}
,]
