Page 28 - State of Biodiversity Report 2022/2023

4.4. Species’ abundance: KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon
In terms of representing urban biodiversity, three taxonomic groups are commonly surveyed, i.e., plants, birds and butterflies. In Durban, reliable, quantitative data sets for most groups of organisms are difficult to obtain because of the lack of long-term monitoring initiatives. For the purposes of this report, only data that is collected consistently and quantitatively is utilised.
4.4.1 KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon
Figure 8. Estimated number of Dwarf chameleons at Chameleon Park
250
200
150
100
50 0
Year
Bradypodion melanocephalum is
a regionally endemic chameleon
and its range is restricted to the
coastal belt of KZN. It is known to inhabit very small patches of suitable habitat in a variety of vegetation types, including road verges and urban gardens along the KZN coast and Midlands. The two vegetation types most frequently inhabited by this chameleon are North Coast Grassland and South Coast Grassland, both of which are classified as Critically Endangered. These vegetation types have been largely transformed by sugarcane cultivation, urbanisation and timber farming. The population of the KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon is, therefore, threatened with an IUCN Red List status of Near Threatened.
In 2002, EKZNW initiated the monitoring of this species at two localities in Durban, i.e., Chameleon Park and a plot of land within D’MOSS next to the Edwin Swales Business Park on Bellair Road. While population sizes have varied greatly since 2002 when counts began, the highest numbers have been
recorded in 2007, 2017 and 2018 (Figure 8). The trend shows a steep decline since 2018 which is likely the result of limited management of AIPs on site. The I-Naturalist records currently shows 140 observations by 44 observers across eThekwini.
KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion melanocephalum)
26 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2022/2023
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Estimated number of audits