CoP17 Prop. 27 and 28

Inclusion of all species of African Pygmy Chameleons in the genera Rhampholeon
and Rieppeleon in Appendix II
Proposal 27 Proponents: Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria andthe United States of America
Proposal 28 Proponent: Kenya
Note: Proposals 27 and 28 are identical in intent. One analysis is presented for the two.
Summary: The proposals seek to include all species of Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon in Appendix II.
Rieppeleon (three species) and Rhampholeon (22 species) are both genera of pygmy chameleons occurringin Africa. Rieppeleon spp. are distributed across Eastern Africa inhabiting lowland forests and non-forest
habitats, including grassland, wet and dry savannah and woodland. Rhampholeon spp. occur in Western,
Central and Eastern African and tend to be confined to montane forests. They appear to be at greater risk
from habitat alteration and loss than Rieppeleon spp. as most species have more restricted ranges, more
specialised habitat requirements and do not adapt as well to altered habitats.
Only two species of Rieppeleon and one of Rhampholeon have been reported in trade in any number:
Rieppeleon brevicaudatus is widespread across United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania) and occurs in asmall part of southeast Kenya. It has an estimated extent of occurrence of 163,800km2, of which less than
10% is forest. It is reported to be locally abundant at lower elevations in forest and disturbed habitats, butless common in disturbed forests at higher elevation (ca. 800m)1. Much of its habitat is within protectedareas2. Surveys conducted in 2009 in the Amani Nature Reserve in Tanzania (at ca. 900m elevation),
encountered it very infrequently along edge habitats. The species is subject to harvesting for the international
pet trade. US trade data reported an average of almost 5000 imported annually into the USA between 2004
and 2013, almost all from Tanzania6. The species is also found in offers for sale in Europe. Shipments ofRi. brevicaudatus are apparently frequently mislabelled as other species of Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon.
Classified in the IUCN Red List as Least Concern (2014).
Rieppeleon kerstenii occurs widely in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania. It is reported to be common,although there are no quantitative population data. US trade data indicate an average of ca. 8200 imported
annually between 2004 and 2013 into the USA, all from Tanzania6. The species is also found in offers forsale in Europe. Some shipments labelled as Ri. kerstenii are reportedly in reality to comprise
Ri. brevicaudatus and Rh. temporalis. Classified in the IUCN Red List as Least Concern (2014).
Rhampholeon spectrum occurs in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (including Bioko), Gabon and Nigeria. It
has been reported as common in montane areas of Cameroon and in parts of southern Nigeria but isbelieved to be rarer in the lowlands and degraded habitats; in southern Nigeria suitable habitat for thespecies is believed only to represent 5% of its original extent. According to US trade data, it is the mostcommonly traded Rhampholeon spp. with ca. 555 specimens per year imported into the USA between 2004
and 2013, mainly from Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon6. Rh. spectrum is apparently widely available forsale in Europe. Classified in the IUCN Red List as Least Concern (2010).
US trade data also shows import of an average of ca. 350 live specimens of Rhampholeon spp. per year
between 2004 and 2013, the majority of which were from Tanzania 6.
Information on the remaining species is as follows:
Rieppeleon brachyurus occurs widely in Tanzania, northern Mozambique and Malawi. The species isbelieved likely to be common although there are no population estimates. US trade data report a small
number of imports (ca. 33 per year for 2004-2013) into the USA6. Classified in the IUCN Red List as Least
Concern (2014).
Rhampholeon acuminatus is currently only known from a single locality in the Nguru South Catchment
Forest Reserve in Tanzania, where there is an estimated 28km 2 of suitable habitat remaining3. The
population is likely to be small, due to its limited range. Around 70 specimens were imported in total into theUSA between 2004 and 2013 with the majority of imports in 2013; two additional shipments totalling 107
individuals were refused in 2010 and 20136. The species is considered desirable in the pet trade. It is1

CoP17 Prop. 27 and 28
regularly found in offers for sale in Europe and the USA. The species is also believed to be particularly at risk
from loss of habitat owing to its limited range. Classified in the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered(2014).
Rhampholeon nchisiensis is mainly confined to Malawi, with peripheral occurrence in Tanzania andZambia4. Its overall range extends over some 12,600km2; only 10% of this is suitable forest habitat5. There isno quantitative information on abundance. It is reportedly imported into the pet trade in limited quantities
every few years, and can be found in offers for sale in Europe and the USA, although five live imports to theUSA have been recorded between 2004 and 20136. Classified in the IUCN Red List as Least Concern(2014).
Rhampholeon temporalis is endemic to the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania where there is believed to beless than 300km 2 of suitable habitat remaining, some of which may be of low quality. In the East Usambara
Mountains, average population density is reported to be just over 30 per ha- with lower densities towards
forest edges. Not recorded in US import data, but the species can be found in offers for sale in Europe andthe USA. Shipments of Rh. temporalis are apparently frequently mislabelled as other species ofRhampholeon and Rieppeleon in the international trade. Classified in the IUCN Red List as Endangered(2014).
Rhampholeon uluguruensis is endemic to the Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania, where it occurs in ca.
280km2 of suitable habitat. No quantitative data on population abundance, but populations are assumed tobe stable. Ca. 350 specimens were imported into the USA between 2004 and 2013, almost all in 2012 and2013. The species can also be found in offers for sale in Europe. Classified in the IUCN Red List as Least
Concern (2014).
Rhampholeon viridis is endemic to the Pare Mountains in northern Tanzania, where there is an estimated
152km2 of suitable habitat scattered over a much larger area. The population is believed to be decreasing
due to severe loss of habitat. US trade data report that ca. 200 specimens were imported into the USA
between 2004 and 2013, almost all in 20136. The species can also be found in offers for sale in Europe.
Classified in the IUCN Red List as Endangered (2014).
Rhampholeon moyeri is endemic to the eastern Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. It is occasionallyavailable in European market. Classified in the IUCN Red List as Least Concern (2014).
Rhampholeon boulengeri is widespread in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda,
Tanzania and Uganda. 47 imported into the US from Burundi and Democratic Republic of the Congo
between 2004 and 2013. Known to be offered for sale in Europe. Classified in the IUCN Red List as Least
Concern (2014).
Of the remaining species most have limited and/or fragmented ranges: Rh. bruessoworum (IUCN CriticallyEndangered, 2014), Rh. chapmanorum (IUCN Critically Endangered, 2014) and Rh. hattinghi (CriticallyEndangered, 2015) have an area of occupancy ranging from ca. 1km 2 to 5km2, while Rh. beraducci (IUCN
Vulnerable, 2014), Rh. nebulauctor (IUCN Vulnerable, 2014) and Rh. tilburyi (IUCN Critically Endangered,2014), are limited to areas of occupancy between ca. 12.5km2 and 18km2. Rh. platyceps (IUCN Endangered,2014), occurs in forest fragments in Malawi totalling 61km 2, Rh. maspictus (IUCN Near Threatened, 2014) islimited to intact forest patch of 79km 2. Rh. gorongosae has an area of occupancy of around 100km2 (IUCN
Least Concern, 2014). Rh. marshalli (IUCN Vulnerable, 2014) inhabits a severely fragmented area ofca. 540km2 which is subjected to ongoing forest transformation. None of these species are known to be intrade.
At least eight species of Rhampholeon and almost certainly all species of Rieppeleon occur in protectedareas.
Available information indicates that national protection is limited. In Cameroon, capture of Rhampholeon spp.
requires a permit although this rule is reportedly often disregarded. In Kenya, all chameleon species areprotected. In May 2016, it was reported that Tanzania had banned the export of live reptiles until proper
procedures to control trade were implemented7.
One species in the genus Bradypodion (B. spinosum, endemic to Tanzania) which was included inAppendix II in 1977 is now widely regarded as a species of Rhampholeon, (Rh. spinosus) but is stillrecognised as Bradypodion under CITES taxonomy. Very little trade in this species is reported in the CITES

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CoP17 Prop. 27 and 28
Trade Database: a total of 147 live specimens reported in trade between and 1993 and 2011, 93 of whichwere reported as born in captivity.
Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon spp. are reported to be subject to ongoing misidentification in trade, both
between species within each genus and between genera, due to their similar morphological characteristics,
particularly colouration and physical size. Shipments labelled "assorted pygmy chameleons" containing wildcaught Rhampholeon spp. have included the CITES-listed B. spinosum (Rh. spinosus).
Analysis: Of the three species in the proposal that are known to be in trade in any number, Ri. kerstenii andRh. spectrum are both widespread species which are not known to be under threat. It is very likely that thepopulations of both are large. Ri. kerstenii is known to have been exported in some numbers from one (offour) range States, Rh. spectrum in considerably smaller numbers from two (of four) range States. It does notappear that either meets the criteria for inclusion in Appendix II in Annex 2 a of Res. Conf. 9.24
(Rev. CoP16). The third species, Ri. brevicaudatus is widely distributed and reportedly locally abundant inTanzania, also occurring marginally in Kenya, and is currently considered not under threat. It has been
exported from Tanzania in some numbers, but it seems unlikely that harvest for export is reducing thepopulation to a level at which its survival might be threatened, or at which it might become eligible forinclusion in Appendix I in the near future.
Of the remaining species eight (Ri. brachyurus, Rh. acuminatus, Rh. boulengeri, Rh. moyeri, Rh. nchisiensis,
Rh. temporalis, Rh. uluguruensis and Rh. viridis) have been recorded in trade, the exact level of which isunknown but is likely to be small. Only Rh. acuminatus, Rh. temporalis and Rh. viridis are currently
considered threatened. There is insufficient information to determine whether either of these three meet thecriteria in Annex 2 a of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16). It is unlikely that any of the others do.
Some of the remaining species are believed to have very restricted or fragmented ranges but are not known
to be in trade.
Distinguishing between all species of Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon may be difficult and there are reports ofmislabelling of species in trade. Shipments of unnamed Rhampholeon have reportedly included theAppendix-II listed Bradypodion spinosum and it might be argued on this basis that the other species meet thecriteria for inclusion in Annex 2 b. However, it should be noted that with the exception of the geographicallydistant Rh. spectrum (which does not appear to meet the criteria in Annex 2 a of the Resolution), all reported
trade in species in these genera (and in B. spinosum) originates from a single range State (Tanzania). Itwould appear that species with Tanzania as a range State would meet the criteria in Annex 2b A (lookalike)in that individuals resemble specimens of a species of Bradypodion spinosum so that enforcement officers
who encounter specimens of CITES-listed species are unlikely to be able to distinguish between them.
These include Rh. acuminatus, Rh. beraduccii, Rh. boulengeri, Rh. moyeri, Rh nchisiensis, Rh. temporalis,Rh uluguruensis, Rh. viridis, Ri. Brahyurys, Ri brevicaudatus and Ri kerstenii. Although other species may
also resemble B. spinosus, it is unlikely that enforcement officers outside of Tanzania would need todistinguish specimens of them from B. spinosum.. It is unclear whether any species elsewhere would meetthese criteria.
Reviewers: C. Anderson, K. Tolley, P. Shirk and S. Chng.
References:
Information not referenced in the Summary section is from the Supporting Statement.
1 Shirk, P. (2016) In litt. to the IUCN/TRAFFIC Analyses Team, Cambridge, UK.
2 Tilbury, C.R. (2010) Chameleons of Africa: An Atlas, Including the Chameleons of Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt.
3 Jenkins, R., Measey, G.J., Anderson, C.V. & Tolley, K.A. (2013) Chameleon Conservation. In: Tolley, K.A. & Herrel, A.
(Eds). The Biology of Chameleons. University of California Press, London. p: 193-217.
4 Tolley, K. (2016) In litt. to the IUCN/TRAFFIC Analyses Team, Cambridge, UK.
5 Tolley, K. & Menegon, M. (2014) Rhampholeon nchisiensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.
6 Analysis of US Fish & Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS) data, May 2016
7 Kilyinga, N. (2016) Tanzania: Live Animal Exports Banned Pending Proper Procedures.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201605260680.html. Viewed on 22nd June 2016.

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