SANBI

Rationale (Changed due to Criteria Revision|Knowledge of criteria)

This species has a relatively restricted extent of occurrence (EOO) of 11,518 km², and a continuing decline in quality of habitat (see Schoeman et al. 2013). The populations in urban areas are fragmented, but this constitutes less than 50% of the species range. Approximately 1,300 km² of its range is within protected areas (Driver et al. 2012), and this species utilizes some well-vegetated urban gardens. Regardless, recent anecdotal information indicates that there is a decline of populations in urban areas. Given the loss of habitat quality in about half the species range, the species is considered Near Threatened; it almost qualifies for listing as threatened under criterion B1ab(iii).

Distribution

Endemic to the southwestern corner of the Western Cape, South Africa, extending eastwards onto the Agulhas plain (Tolley and Burger 2007, Bates et al. 2014). Introduced subpopulations in Namibia and Clanwilliam (Branch 1998) have not been confirmed in recent years.

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

The population is inferred to be decreasing due to substantial urbanization within this species distribution in the City of Cape Town municipality. However, populations in the nearby Cape Fold Mountains are considered stable and not fragmented.

Threats

The greatest current threat to this species is environmental change, primarily in the form of habitat loss and transformation through urbanization and agricultural sprawl. According to the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment (Driver et al. 2012), well over 50% of the historical natural habitat of Bradypodion pumilum is presently transformed. Although this species can persist in some fragments of the urban setting, it generally does not tolerate altered environments (e.g. Tolley and Measey 2007). Global climatic change model predictions using the ‘worst case scenario’ predict that the species’ range will be reduced by about 50% by 2050 (Houniet et al. 2009). Although part of the range is in fire-prone habitat, the increased frequency of fires due to anthropogenic influences will impact it negatively. This is compounded by other threats such as predation by domestic cats in urban and rural settings, and deliberate translocation of chameleons. Bradypodion pumilum is popular with the general public as a pet, despite this being prohibited by conservation legislation. Specimens are often captured at one locality and released elsewhere, sometimes within the range of another chameleon species. This practice is of particular conservation concern because it leads to the mixing of gene pools among subpopulations and may result in hybridisation. Climate model projections using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change A2 and B2 scenarios suggest that this species could suffer a 60% loss in climatically suitable habitat in the 100 years (Houniet et al. 2009).

Uses and trade

Because of the colourful appearance of this chameleon, it is sought after locally and nationally as a pet. It is commonly taken from the wild by the public, despite this practice being illegal in the Western Cape (the province to which it is endemic). The CITES trade database indicates minimal numbers have been exported from South Africa over the last decades for pet trade (UNEP-WCMC 2017). Live exports for trade during the last seven years (2010-2016, 122 individuals) outnumber the total of CITES exports between 1975-2009 (UNEP-WCMC 2017). This could indicate an increasing demand for this species. Increased trade could detrimentally affect this species given the already compromised nature of its habitat.

Conservation

This species is listed in CITES Appendix II; it occurs in some protected areas. Given that habitat loss, fragmentation and transformation are the most serious threats to Bradypodion pumilum, manage its remaining habitat wisely, especially urban green areas and larger nature reserves. Conduct baseline studies investigating the dispersal abilities of this chameleon; these will be useful for making recommendations regarding the linking of existing habitat fragments that promote dispersal and interbreeding. Conduct additional genetic studies mapping the presence and frequency of bottlenecked subpopulations, to contribute to an understanding of the effects of fragmentation. Focus public awareness on the negative impacts of translocating chameleons and encourage the planting of chameleon-friendly gardens to increase and link remaining suitable habitat. Extend this campaign to include public contributions of survey data to map the distribution (presence/absence) of chameleons in the urban environment.

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{2817,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Branch, W.R.},
 publisher = {Struik Publishers},
 title = {Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Edition},
 year = {1998}
}
,@book{2817,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Branch, W.R.},
 publisher = {Struik Publishers},
 title = {Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Second Edition},
 year = {1998}
}
,@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{3012,
 author = {Schoeman, F., Newby, T.S., Thompson, M.W. and Van den Berg, E.C.},
 journal = {South African Journal of Geomatics},
 number = {2},
 pages = {94--105},
 title = {South African National Land-Cover Change Map},
 volume = {2},
 year = {2013}
}
,@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{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}
}
,@phdthesis{3023,
 author = {Houniet, D.},
 school = {M.Sc. thesis, University of Cape Town},
 title = {The Effects of Environment and Niche on the Distributions of Dwarf Chameleons, Present and Future},
 year = {2008}
}
,@book{13290941,
 address = {Pretoria, South Africa},
 author = {Driver, A., Maze, K., Rouget, M., Lombard, A.T., Nel, J., Turpie, J.K., Cowling, R.M., Desmet, P., Goodman, P., Harris, J., Jonas, Z., Reyers, B., Sink, K. and Strauss, T.},
 publisher = {Strelitzia 17, South African National  Biodiversity Institute},
 title = {National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2004: Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation in South Africa},
 year = {2005}
}
,@article{42683517,
 author = {Neças, P.},
 journal = {Sauria, Berlin},
 number = {1},
 pages = {3--9.},
 title = {<i>Chamaeleo</i> (<i>Trioceros</i>) <i>harennae fitchi</i> (Reptilia: Sauria: Chamaeleonidae), ein neues Chamäleon aus dem äthiopischen Hochland. },
 volume = {26},
 year = {2004}
}
,@article{42683517,
 author = {Klaver, C.J.J. and Böhme, W.},
 journal = {Das Tierreich},
 pages = {1--67},
 title = {Chamaeleonidae},
 volume = {112},
 year = {1997}
}
,@book{42683517,
 address = {Frankfurt, Germany},
 author = {Neças, P.},
 publisher = {Edition Chimaira},
 title = {Chameleons - Nature's Hidden Jewels.},
 year = {2004}
}
,@article{42683517,
 author = {Tolley, K.A. and Measey, G.J.},
 journal = {African Journal of Herpetology},
 number = {1},
 pages = {85--89},
 title = {Chameleons and vineyards in the Western Cape of South Africa: Is automated grape harvesting a threat to the Cape Dwarf Chameleon (<i>Bradypodion pumilum</i>)?},
 volume = {56},
 year = {2007}
}
,@inbook{42683517,
 address = {Berlin, New York},
 author = {Klaver, C. and B&ouml;hme, W},
 booktitle = {Chamaeleonidae},
 pages = {112: XIV, 1--85},
 publisher = {Verlag Walter de Gruyter & Co.},
 title = {Das Tierreich},
 year = {1997}
}
,@article{42683517,
 author = {Hopkins, K.P. and Tolley, K.A.},
 journal = {Biological Journal of the Linnean Society},
 pages = {878--888},
 title = {Morphological variation in the Cape Dwarf Chameleon (<i>Bradypodion pumilum</i>) as a consequence of spatially explicit habitat structure differences},
 volume = {102},
 year = {2011}
}
,]

How to cite this assessment

See the partners page

Send feedback about this assessment to SANBI

Red List of South African Species