Short Communication

Predation on chameleons in Madagascar: a review

Published in: African Journal of Herpetology
Volume 58 , issue 2 , 2009 , pages: 131–136

DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2009.9650033

Author(s): Richard , K. B. Jenkins School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK , Jeanneney Rabearivony The Peregrine Fund, Madagascar , Hajanirina Rakotomanana , , University of Antananarivo, Madagascar

Keywords: Chamaeleonidae , Madagascar , avifauna , predators

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Abstract

We reviewed the diet of nocturnal and diurnal chameleon predators on Madagascar from the available literature and identified 28 species. Diurnal raptors were the main predators of chameleons, although the literature was biased towards birds and probably underestimated predation by other animals, notably snakes. Eutriorchis astul' (Accipitridae) and Falco zoniventris (Falconidae) are the principal avian predators of Furcifer spp. and Calumma spp. and the Brachypteracias leptosomus (Brachypteraciidae) of Brookesia spp.

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