A Tarzan yell for conservation: a new chameleon, Calumma tarzan sp. n., proposed as a flagship species for the creation of new nature reserves in Madagascar

作者：Gehring Philip Sebastian^*; Pabijan Maciej; Ratsoavina Fanomezana M; Koehler Joern; Vences Miguel; Glaw Frank

来源：Salamandra, 2010, 46(3): 167-179.

• Squamata
• Chamaeleonidae
• Calumma tarzan
• new species
• forest fragments
• Madagascar

We describe Calumma tarzan sp. n., a morphologically distinct chameleon species of the Calumma furcifer species group from rainforest fragments in the Anosibe An'Ala region of central eastern Madagascar. Males and females of this species differ from all other species of the Calumma furcifer group by its rostral crests, which are fused anteriorly to form a spade-like ridge that slightly projects beyond the snout tip (less than 1 mm), by a unique stress colouration with a pattern of bright yellow and green, and by significant genetic divergence as assessed by an analysis of sequences of a fragment of the mitochondrial ND4 gene. We suspect that Calumma tarzan might be restricted to a rather small and fragmented distribution range and we consider the IUCN conservation status of "Critically Endangered" as adequate for this species. Moreover, we propose Calumma tarzan as a flagship species for the establishment of new protected areas in central-eastern Madagascar and suggest that biological surveys be carried out in the largely unexplored forest fragments of the region.

• 出版日期2010-8-20