A new Dwarf Chameleon (Sauria: Bradypodion Fitzinger, 1843) from the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa

Abstract

A new dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion atromontanum Branch, Tolley & Tilbury sp. nov., is described from mountain fynbos habitat in the Great Swartberg Mountains, Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is closest geographically to Bradypodion gutturale but distinguished by its smaller size, less tuberculate scalation, genetic divergence, and restriction to Mountain Fynbos habitat. Although its known distribution falls in the conserved Swartberg Nature Reserve, it should be classified as Vulnerable due to its very restricted range.