Rationale
(Changed due to Same category and criteria)
This species is confined to indigenous Afromontane forest. Much of this forest was transformed into plantation in the past and is now patchy in some areas. However, the development of plantations has been largely halted and in some areas, rehabilitation back to indigenous forest is taking place. Given the relatively large extent of occurrence (EOO) (just over 5,100 km2) and there is no continuing decline in habitat quality or extent at present, the species is assessed as Least Concern.
Distribution
This species has a restricted range along the south-facing forested slopes of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains in the Western and Eastern Cape, South Africa, from the George area eastwards to Witelsbos (Bates et al. 2014). There is a small isolated subpopulation (area of 0.6 km²) in Grootvadersbos Forest approximately 180 km west of the main distribution (Tolley et al. 2006, Tolley and Burger 2007). Records from the town of Swellendam are an introduced population.
No information on population size or trend is currently available, but the species is estimated to be stable.
Threats
Threats relate mainly to past habitat fragmentation and land transformation. Many of the remaining fragments of indigenous forest habitat are moderately to poorly protected (Driver et al. 2012). Afforestation potential within the remaining distribution is considered high (Driver et al. 2012).
Uses and trade
There is very little legal trade in this chameleon, with CITES exports totalling only 55 individuals up until 2016 (UNEP-WCMC 2017). However, because it is extremely colourful, it is commonly removed from the wild by the public and taken as a household pet. Anecdotal reports also suggest it is routinely translocated by homeowners to properties far outside its natural distribution.
Conservation
This species is listed in CITES Appendix II; it occurs in some protected areas. This species is not under immediate threat and therefore no conservation actions are recommended. Nevertheless, it should be noted that any future land transformation of indigenous Afromontane forest could adversely affect this species. In addition, trade should be monitored and CITES regulations should be strictly enforced.
[@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}
}
,@article{3023,
author = {Tolley, K.A., Burger, M., Turner, A.A. and Matthee, C.A.},
journal = {Molecular Ecology},
pages = {781--793},
title = {Biogeographic patterns and phylogeography of dwarf chameleons (<i>Bradypodion</i>) in an African biodiversity hotspot},
volume = {15},
year = {2006}
}
,]
