Knysna Dwarf Chameleon
Encyclopedia
The Knysna Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion damaranum) is a species of dwarf chameleon
in the Bradypodion
("slow footed") genus
of chameleon
s that are endemic to South Africa
. It is a forest dweller, found only in a limited range in the afromontane
forests near Knysna
, South Africa
, and in certain other areas. As with most chameleons, its tongue is twice the length of its body and it can be shot out of its mouth using a special muscle in the jaw. This gives the chameleon the ability to catch insects some distance away.
of one Cape Bradypodion
species
This is now known to be wrong however; B. damaranum does not appear to have any particularly close living relatives. Like the Cape Dwarf Chameleon
it seems to be a basal offshoot of the ancestral stock which gave rise to all Bradypodion chameleon species.
.
This chameleon also readily adapts to living in gardens. However, the use of hedge trimmers and the introduction of domestic cats have seen the species vanishing from large areas.
Bradypodion
Bradypodion is one of six genera of chameleons within the "true" or "typical" chameleons . They are native to southern Africa, and are sometimes collectively called South African dwarf chameleons...
in the Bradypodion
Bradypodion
Bradypodion is one of six genera of chameleons within the "true" or "typical" chameleons . They are native to southern Africa, and are sometimes collectively called South African dwarf chameleons...
("slow footed") genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of chameleon
Chameleon
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, the possession by many of a...
s that are endemic to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is a forest dweller, found only in a limited range in the afromontane
Afromontane
Afromontane is a term used to describe the Afrotropic subregion and its plant and animal species common to the mountains of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula...
forests near Knysna
Knysna
Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and in certain other areas. As with most chameleons, its tongue is twice the length of its body and it can be shot out of its mouth using a special muscle in the jaw. This gives the chameleon the ability to catch insects some distance away.
Taxonomy
In the past most South African dwarf chameleons were considered to be a subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of one Cape Bradypodion
Bradypodion
Bradypodion is one of six genera of chameleons within the "true" or "typical" chameleons . They are native to southern Africa, and are sometimes collectively called South African dwarf chameleons...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
This is now known to be wrong however; B. damaranum does not appear to have any particularly close living relatives. Like the Cape Dwarf Chameleon
Cape Dwarf Chameleon
The Cape Dwarf Chameleon , is a chameleon native to the South African province of the Western Cape where it is restricted to the region around Cape Town. As with most chameleons, its tongue is twice the length of its body and it can be shot out of its mouth using a special muscle in the jaw...
it seems to be a basal offshoot of the ancestral stock which gave rise to all Bradypodion chameleon species.
Habitat
The normal habitat of Bradypodion damaranum is dense, wet montane forestAfromontane
Afromontane is a term used to describe the Afrotropic subregion and its plant and animal species common to the mountains of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula...
.
This chameleon also readily adapts to living in gardens. However, the use of hedge trimmers and the introduction of domestic cats have seen the species vanishing from large areas.
