Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 551-553 (2021) (published online on 18 March 2021)

A new record, with range extension, for the dwarf ebenaui Boettger, 1880 from Beantely forest, north of

Raphali Rodlis Andriantsimanarilafy1,* and Jeanneney Rabearivony2

Madagascar supports 45% (98 out of 217 ) of From February to April 2018, we conducted the chameleon worldwide diversity (Uetz et al., 2020). inventories for several classes of vertebrates (e.g., Malagasy are organised into four genera amphibians, , birds, lemurs, small mammals and Brookesia, , and Furcifer (Glaw, bats) in Bobaomby area, in the northern tip of Madagascar. 2015). Calumma and Furcifer are mostly arboreal, Five study sites were visited (Fig. 1), and each of them although a few taxa (mostly of the latter ) are was surveyed for seven days. We used three standard known to use low herbaceous vegetation (Raxworthy methods to survey the herpetofauna of each locality: we 1988). Brookesia and Palleon are more terrestrial, set up three 100 m long line(s) of drift fence and pitfall often found within the leaf litter in rainforests and dry traps, performed active (nocturnal and diurnal) searches deciduous forest, climbing into herbaceous vegetation along a 6150 m transect line, and we actively searched and low bushes to roost at night (Glaw et al., 2012). in refuges (Raselimanana, 2008). For each encountered Several new chameleon species have been described the following data were recorded: survey date, recently, especially from the Brookesia and Calumma species name, GPS coordinates, altitude, perch height genera (Crottini et al., 2012; Glaw et al., 2012; Prötzel at its first observation, and microhabitat characteristics. et al., 2017a, b, 2018, 2020; Scherz et al., 2019). Morphometric measurements were recorded, and is distributed in northern one voucher specimen was collected and deposited Madagascar (Glaw, 2015). Its extent of occurrence in the herpetological collection of the University of is estimated to be 14,321 km² (Jenkins et al., 2011) Antananarivo (UADBA-R 71739; Fig. 1). including Ankarana (Raselimanana 2008), A total of 30 transect lines with a total effort of 4500 m (Glaw and Vences, 2007), Montagne d’Ambre between were surveyed. We encountered three individuals (two 650 and 800 m elevation (Raxworthy and Nussbaum, adult males and one female) of Brookesia ebenaui at the 1994) and the adjacent Forêt d’Ambre (D’Cruze et Beantely forest. Snout vent length was between 37.1 al., 2008), Montagne des Français at 140 m elevation and 38.9 mm, and tail length between 26.9 and 27.2 (D’Cruze et al., 2007), Daraina (Rakotondravony, mm. All individuals were found between 144 and 210 2006), Manongarivo (Raxworthy and Nussbaum, 1995) m asl in the less disturbed interior forest. All individuals and (Andreone et al., 2003). Brookesia ebenaui were observed during nocturnal searches, roosting has been found from sea level to 800 m (Raxworthy on vegetation at 0.5 and 1 m from the ground. These and Nussbaum, 1994, 1995), and it has been assessed findings represent a new locality of the species situated as Vulnerable in 2012, based on its distribution and at 7 km north from the closest known population and population fragmentation (Jenkins et al., 2011). can be considered as a range extension for the species (Fig. 1). Beantely is a small fragment of dry forest surrounded by savannah with Ziziphus mauritiana and Poupartia 1 Madagasikara Voakajy, Lot II F 14 P Bis A – Andraisoro, BP caffra. The majority of the local people are farmers whose 5181, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar. cattle plays an important role in the local community. 2 Faculté des Sciences, Université d’Antsiranana, Antsiranana Traditional farming systems are common in the area, and 201, Madagascar. cattle often enter into the forest, destroying young plants * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] which affect forest regeneration. Chameleons within this © 2021 by Herpetology Notes. Open Access by CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. area are threatened by forest loss and degradation due 552 Raphali Rodlis Andriantsimanarilafy & Jeanneney Rabearivony

Figure 1. (A) Map showing the current extent of occurrence of Brookesia ebenaui; (B) map showing the five study sites (black triangles) and the new locality record for Brookesia ebenaui (red dots); (C): adult female of Brookesia ebenaui from Beantely forest (specimen number RHJ-SP-003R, UADBA-R 71739). Photos by Raphali Andriantsimanarilafy.

to, among other factors, agricultural clearance, charcoal References production, timber extraction, small-scale quarrying, Andreone, F., Glaw, F., Nussbaum, R.A., Raxworthy, C.J., Vences, cattle grasing, and small-holder development (D’Cruze M., Randrianirina, J.E. (2003): The amphibians and reptiles of et al., 2007). Nosy Be (NW Madagascar) and nearby islands: a case study of Beantely forest is important in terms of biodiversity diversity and conservation of insular fauna. Journal of Natural conservation, and local communities currently manage History 37: 2119–2149. this area by mean of a management transfer protocol. Crottini, A., Miralles, A., Glaw, F., Harris, D.J., Lima, A., Vences M. (2012). Description of a new pygmy chameleon The protection of the entire Bobaomby complex is (Chamaeleonidae: Brookesia) from central Madagascar. Zootaxa needed to protect the remaining forest fragments and 3490: 63–74. safeguard the area’s unique biodiversity. We suggest D’Cruze, N., Köhler, J., Franzen, M., Glaw, F. (2008): A Beantely be included within the core protected zone conservation assessment of the amphibians and reptiles of the of the new protected area, to ensure the conservation Forêt d’Ambre Special Reserve, north Madagascar. Madagascar of the threatened taxa known from this area. Such taxa Conservation & Development 3(1): 44–54. include four (Eulemur coronatus, D’Cruze, N.C., Sabel, J., Green, K., Dawson, J., Gardner, C., Robinson, J., et al. (2007): The first comprehensive survey of Phisalixella variabilis, Heteroliodon fohy and Mantella amphibians and reptiles at Montagne des Français, Madagascar. viridis) together with three species classified as Herpetological Conservation and Biology 2: 87–99. Vulnerable (Blaesodactylus boivini, Furcifer petteri, Glaw, F. (2015): Taxonomic checklist of chameleons (: ebenaui). More research on population Chamaeleonidae). Vertebrate 65(2): 167–283. size and habitat preferences of Brookesia ebenaui is Glaw, F., Köhler, J., Townsend, T.M., Vences, M. (2012): Rivaling recommended. the world’s smallest reptiles: Discovery of miniaturized and microendemic new species of leaf chameleons (Brookesia) from northern Madagascar. PLoS ONE 7(2): e31314. Acknowledgements. This work was funded by Rainforest Trust. Glaw, F., Vences, M. (2007): A field guide to the amphibians We thank the Ministry of Environment, Ecology and Forest for and reptiles of Madagascar. 3rd Ed. Vences & Glaw Verlag, granting research permits (No254/17/MEEF/SG/DGF/DSAP/ Cologne. SCB.Re on 17 October 2017). We are grateful to the Mention Jenkins, R.K.B., Andreone, F., Andriamazava, A., Anjeriniaina, M., Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, (MZBA) of the University Glaw, F., Rabibisoa, N., et al. (2011): Brookesia ebenaui. The of Antananarivo and the Natural Sciences and Environment of IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011. Downloaded on 13 the University of Antsiranana for their appreciated collaboration June 2018. in organising the field work. Many thanks also the regional and Prötzel, D., Lambert, S.M., Andrianasolo, T.G., Hutter, C.R., local authorities in Antsiranana II District, and the communities Cobb, K.A., Scherz, M.D., Glaw, F. (2018): The smallest ‘true around all the study sites for their precious collaboration during chameleon’ from Madagascar: a new, distinctly colored species of field work. the Calumma boettgeri complex (Squamata, Chamaeleonidae). Zoosytematics and Evolution 94(2): 409–423. A new record, with range extension, for the dwarf chameleon Brookesia ebenaui 553

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Accepted by Angelica Crottini