A global approach to the conservation of the world's largest chameleon

Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii) is the world's largest chameleon species, with a total length of up to 70 cm. In 2011, it was classified by the IUCN as Near Threatened (NT), but the rapid decline in its population means that this chameleon is close to being classified as an endangered species.

​

Loss of rainforest, mainly through conversion of agriculture by cutting and burning, but also through logging, is a threat to this species. Much of the habitat of this species is extremely fragmented, and small fragments of forest are unlikely to be viable to ensure the survival of this large species with its low population density (Jenkins, et al., 2011).

​​

This emblematic species is endemic to the primary rainforest areas of the north and east coasts of Madagascar. It is currently represented by two subspecies: Calumma parsonii parsonii (Cuvier, 1824) which frequents the mountain forests of eastern Madagascar and Calumma parsonii cristifer (Methuen & Hewitt, 1913) which is found in the tropical rainforest around Analamazaotra and Mantadia.

​

In this species, sexual maturity is reached at between 2 and 5 years of age, although it appears to be earlier in the C. p. cristifer subspecies. Females lay between 38 and 63 eggs after a gestation period of 3 to 5 months. Incubation lasts between 14 and 24 months. The average lifespan of this species is fairly long for a chameleon, between 10 and 12 years in the wild and up to 14 years in captivity (Jenkins, et al., 2011).

​

This programme consists of two projects (in situ and ex situ) with complementary objectives in line with modern, global approaches to conservation. The Parson's chameleon is an emblematic species among Madagascar's reptiles, and despite the risk of extinction hanging over its natural populations, no similar study on this species has yet been carried out on such a large scale.