SANBI

Rationale (Changed due to Same category but change in criteria)

This species appears to have a moderately sized distribution but much of the potential available habitat has not been fully surveyed and it is possible that the distribution is wider than estimated. Approximately 20% of the known distribution is within protected areas, mainly the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg National Park. Most of the remaining range is poorly protected (Driver et al. 2005) and is moderately to highly fragmented with a loss in habitat quality due to human activities. The species is therefore considered Near Threatened as it almost qualifies for a threatened listing under criterion B1ab(iii). If additional information regarding area of occupancy (AOO), extent of occurrence (EOO) and quality of habitat becomes available, then this species should be re-evaluated.

Distribution

This species occurs in the Drakensberg Range of KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern Free State, South Africa (Tolley and Burger 2007, Bates et al. 2014), and has an EOO of 7,898 km². Found from Cathedral Peak northwards to Normandien Pass, and as far west as Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

Decline

Moderate

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

No information on population size or trend is currently available, but the species is estimated to be stable.

Threats

Although a large proportion of the area of occupancy falls within protected areas, outside of these, the habitat is moderately to highly fragmented by human activities (Meadows and Hoffman 2002, Driver et al. 2012). Most of the area within the distribution range has high potential for afforestation and the planting of crops, and human population density is expected to increase.

Uses and trade

There is very little legal trade with a limited number of individuals were exported under CITES in 1995 (UNEP-WCMC 2017).

Conservation

No conservation actions are recommended at present. This species is listed in CITES Appendix II. The species is widespread and occurs in a number of protected areas across its range.

References

[@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{3017,
 author = {da Silva, J.M. and Tolley, K.A.},
 journal = {Journal of Biogeography},
 pages = {834--847},
 title = {Diversification through ecological opportunity in dwarf chameleons},
 volume = {44},
 year = {2017}
}
,@article{3023,
 author = {Tolley, K.A., Tilbury, C.R., Branch, W.R. and Matthee, C.A.},
 journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution},
 pages = {354--365},
 title = {Phylogenetics of the southern African dwarf chameleons, <i>Bradypodion</i> (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae)},
 volume = {30},
 year = {2004}
}
,@article{176291,
 author = {Meadows, M.E. and Hoffmann, M.T.},
 journal = {Area},
 number = {4},
 pages = {428--437},
 title = {The nature, extent and causes of land degradation in South Africa: Legacy of the past, lessons for the future?},
 volume = {34},
 year = {2002}
}
,]

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