2015 IUCN Red List Assessment Update for Chameleons!

Chris Anderson

Dr. House of Chameleons
Hi Everyone,

Last year I posted a thread about a major update to the chameleons included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/iucn-red-list-assessments-for-chameleons-updated.136412/). At the time 184 of the 200 (92%) recognized chameleon species had been assessed. I wanted to post an update to let everyone know that 193 (95.5%) of the 202 recognized chameleon species have now had their assessments completed by the IUCN/SSC Chameleon Specialist Group (CSG) and their assessments have been published in the latest updated to the IUCN Red List.

This latest update added assessments for the following taxa: Calumma linotum, Chamaeleo anchietae, Kinyongia mulyai, Rhampholeon hattinghi, Trioceros oweni, T. perreti, T. pfefferi, T. quadricornis, and T. serratus. Based on these updates, I wanted to also update some of the trends I outlined in the previous thread regarding the conservation status of chameleons:

- At least 36% of chameleons are threatened! Of the 202 currently recognized species of chameleon, 72 are assessed as threatened (i.e., Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable) and an additional 35 are assessed as Near Threatened. When accounting for species assessed as Data Deficient (DD - 10) or that have not yet been assessed by the IUCN Red List (NE - 9), this means that 36-45% of the family (37% of species for which sufficient data are available) are Threatened, and 53-62% of the family (approximately 55%) are Threatened or Near Threatened. This is compared to reptiles in general, where 19% are threatened and 26% Threatened or Near Threatened.
- Eleven (11) species of chameleon are considered Critically Endangered (CR)! The Red List Category of CR is one step removed from Extinct in the Wild (EW) and then Extinct (EX). These species are considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, and are in immediate need of conservation action. The chameleon species assessed as CR are: Brookesia bonsi, Brookesia desperata, Calumma hafahafa, Calumma tarzan, Furcifer belalandaensis, Kinyongia mulyai, Rhampholeon acuminatus, Rhampholeon bruessoworum, Rhampholeon chapmanorum, Rhampholeon hattinghi and Rhampholeon tilburyi.
- There are 39 species of chameleon that have been assessed as Endangered (EN). Species assessed as EN are considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. The chameleon species assessed as EN are: Archaius tigris, Bradypodion caffer, Bradypodion taeniabronchum, Brookesia bekolosy, Brookesia decaryi, Brookesia dentata, Brookesia exarmata, Brookesia karchei, Brookesia lineata, Brookesia minima, Brookesia perarmata, Brookesia peyrierasi, Brookesia ramanantsoai, Brookesia tristis, Brookesia valerieae, Calumma andringitraense, Calumma furcifer, Calumma gallus, Calumma glawi, Calumma globifer, Calumma hilleniusi, Calumma vencesi, Calumma vohibola, Furcifer balteatus, Furcifer minor, Furcifer nicosiai, Kinyongia magomberae, Kinyongia matschiei, Kinyongia multituberculata, Kinyongia tenuis, Kinyongia vosseleri, Nadzikambia mlanjensis, Rhampholeon platyceps, Rhampholeon spinosus, Rhampholeon temporalis, Rhampholeon viridis, Trioceros laterispinis, Trioceros perreti and Trioceros pfefferi.
- Almost 2/3 (63%) of Rhampholeon spp. are threatened, but the genus is not CITES listed! Of the 19 currently recognized species of Rhampholeon, 12 are threatened (i.e., Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable), including five (5) of the eleven (11) chameleon species listed as CR. Unfortunately, with the exception of Rhampholeon spinosus, Rhampholeon spp. are not currently listed on any appendix of CITES, an international agreement establishing a permit system to control and monitor international trade to protect against over-exploitation. Some of these threatened Rhampholeon spp., however, are currently being harvested heavily for the pet trade.
- Ten (10) chameleon species have been assessed as Data Deficient (DD). Species assessed as DD lack sufficient information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of their risk of extinction based on their distribution and/or population status. As a result, the conservation status of these species is still unknown. The chameleon species assessed as DD are: Brookesia lambertoni, Calumma fallax, Calumma vatosoa, Chamaeleo necasi, Furcifer tuzetae, Kinyongia gyrolepis, Trioceros kinetensis, Trioceros ntunte, Trioceros schoutedeni, and Trioceros wiedersheimi.
- IUCN Red List assessments of 9 chameleon species are currently listed as Not Evaluated (NE). IUCN Red List assessments for 193 out of 202 currently recognized chameleon species are currently published on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species website, leaving 9 remaining unpublished. These assessments have been completed, however, and should be published in the near future. Species currently listed as NE are: Bradypodion atromontanum, B. caeruleogula, B. damaranum, B. gutturale, B. kentanicum, B. melanocephalum, B. ngomeense, B. occidentale, and B. pumilum.

The specific criteria by which each species was assessed to their respective Red List Category is provided in the individual assessments under the “Assessment Information” section and is outlined in the IUCN Categories & Criteria (version 3.1). There is also quite a bit of information on the distribution and conservation status of each species in their respective assessments. I definitely encourage people to look over them and educate themselves about the conservation status of these animals!

Chris
 
Sad, but informative.

Thanks for the update.

- Almost 2/3 (63%) of Rhampholeon spp. are threatened, but the genus is not CITES listed! Some of these threatened Rhampholeon spp., however, are currently being harvested heavily for the pet trade. I definitely encourage people to look over them and educate themselves about the conservation status of these animals!​

Chris


This is one way we can make a difference. Do not feed the need!
 
Chris, do you think this is caused from lack of habitat or from exporting? Probably both but it's very sad either way.
 
Chris, do you think this is caused from lack of habitat or from exporting? Probably both but it's very sad either way.

This is a situation that is not just seen from chameleon conservation however populations can be harmed from loss of habitat and and in certain situations exporting. If you want a good example there is the Scarlet Macaw's of Mexico. The populations there were over collected and habitat was lost to the that the populations had to be reintroduced to restore these Macaws to a large part of their range. The worst is where you have both over collecting and habitat loss. If you have an endangered or critically endangered species that lives in an exceedingly small fragmented habitat then you add collecting for the hobby you put that species in eminent danger of extinction. That is with or without the intervention of people. Meaning habitat has to be conserved for these species to live and people cannot over collect these species that have a precarious existance as is if you want them to live on to future decades and centuries.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich
 
I guess collection for conservation would be necessary to an extent, but collection for the pet trade is generally done for profit and can be devastating.
 
This is a link to an article and references to the reintroduction of Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao) to parts of Mexico. I actually got the opportunity with my family to visit one of these large forest fragments/reintroduction sites for Scarlet Macaws a couple years ago. I have got picture.

http://news.mongabay.com/2015/07/re...t-to-the-local-food-scene-in-palenque-mexico/

This is an article about the similar reintroduction of Scarlet Macaws to Guatemala.

http://www.parrotsdailynews.com/arcas-released-the-first-captive-bred-scarlet-macaws-in-guatemala/
 
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