Antsingy leaf chameleon  (Brookesia perarmata)

Biology

The Antsingy leaf chameleon lives amongst the leaf litter and on low branches on or close to the forest floor where it feeds on small insects such as small flies and termites (4). It stalks prey slowly and, when within range, flicks out its muscular tongue at great speed, catching the prey on the tongue tip and pulling it back into the mouth (6).

In the tropical climate of Madagascar, reproduction occurs mainly during the rainy season (2). The Antsingy leaf chameleon, like most other chameleons, is oviparous (5). Females lay their eggs in soft soil or piles of dead foliage on the forest floor, where natural decomposition of the leaves provides a constant level of heat and humidity (7). Hatching occurs after four to six weeks, and there may be two to five eggs per clutch, with females laying two clutches per year (8).

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