Canopy chameleon

About the Canopy chameleon

The canopy chameleon (Furcifer willsii), also known commonly as Wills's chameleon or incorrectly as Will's chameleon, is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. The species was originally described by Albert Günther in 1890.

The specific name, willsii, is in honour of English ornithologist Rev. James Wills (1836–1898), who was a missionary in Madagascar from 1870 to 1898. Furcifer willsii is endemic to east-central and northeastern Madagascar, along with an isolated range in the north-central part of the island. The type locality of west Imerina Imady, in a forest region. The species can be found at between 600 and 1,300 metres (2,000 and 4,300 feet) above sea level and is estimated to be found over an area of 100,350 square kilometres (38,750 square miles). Records show that this species has been found Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve. F. willsii may have been sighted once in western Madagascar at Ankarafantsika National Park, although this observation has not been verified as of 2007. Reports from Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve are uncertain: they may be of F. willsii... Wikipedia →