Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Brookesia desperata (Brookesia desperata), recorded as Critically Endangered
Brookesia desperata (Brookesia desperata). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Critically Endangered

Brookesia desperata

Brookesia desperata

Brookesia desperata is a leaf chameleon in the family Chamaeleonidae, recorded as Critically Endangered and tied to Madagascar.

Status
Critically Endangered
Scientific name
Brookesia desperata
Recorded from
Madagascar
Taxonomy
Squamata · Chamaeleonidae · Brookesia

Appearance

This decline is attributed to clearance of forest for crops, charcoal production, timber extraction, small-scale quarrying and cattle grazing.

B. Desperata was described in 2012 by a research team led by Dr.

Range and habitat

It is endemic to Foret d'Ambre Special Reserve in north Madagascar, and is a critically endangered species due to the decline of its habitat. It was named desperata to provoke thought regarding the desperately threatened habitat of Madagascar's micro-endemic species.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Habits

A chameleon rocks, aims, and shoots the tongue. Many dwarf species live in low vegetation or leaf litter, not only in high canopy.

In crisis

Brookesia desperata is Critically Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Brookesia desperata, Wikidata item Q1188641. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Same genus

Photograph of Antsingy leaf chameleon (Brookesia perarmata), recorded as EndangeredEN

Antsingy leaf chameleon

Brookesia perarmata
Photograph of Brookesia decaryi (Brookesia decaryi), recorded as EndangeredEN

Brookesia decaryi

Brookesia decaryi
Photograph of Naturelle leaf chameleon (Brookesia karchei), recorded as EndangeredEN

Naturelle leaf chameleon

Brookesia karchei
Photograph of Brookesia minima (Brookesia minima), recorded as EndangeredEN

Brookesia minima

Brookesia minima

Quick answers

What is Brookesia desperata?
Brookesia desperata is a leaf chameleon in the family Chamaeleonidae.
What is the conservation status of Brookesia desperata?
Critically Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Brookesia desperata. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Brookesia desperata live?
It is endemic to Foret d'Ambre Special Reserve in north Madagascar, and is a critically endangered species due to the decline of its habitat.
Why is Brookesia desperata in crisis?
It is endemic to Foret d'Ambre Special Reserve in north Madagascar, and is a critically endangered species due to the decline of its habitat.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Brookesia desperata?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Brookesia desperata a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.