Contract ZA 355 with the Southern African Nature Foundation (now WWF South Africa) had 3 objectives. These were to investigate the biodiversity within the genus Bradypodion, to map the ranges and investigate habitat, ecological requirements and geographical factors affecting their distribution and to identify conservation priorities.

Investigations, based mainly on preserved specimens, on the taxonomy and biogeography of the 15 named taxa of dwarf chameleons of the genus Bradypodion indicates that a possible 42 additional new taxa may occur but these presently need confirmation and are therefore included in the closest described taxon for the purposes of this report. Statistical tests carried out on some of the populations provided an indication of the complexity of some described taxa. Most of these presumed taxa appear to occupy very restricted ranges which will have important implications for conservation management.

The present conservation status of the described species is documented and shows that the 15 described Bradypodion species are known to occur in 70 protected areas in South Africa.

A COLOUR MAP shows the comparative distribution of Bradypodion localities relative to that of protected areas.

Methods for determining the conservation priority rating of individual taxa and for planning the long term conservation of individual populations are described and illustrated with a practical example using the typical population of Bradypodion melanocephalum .

The results of a postal survey of protected areas are presented together with details of existing conservation legislation and international trade data for chameleons.

Dwarf chameleons, in general, have a high priority for conservation action. They are only reported from 70 protected areas amongst those situated in the 131 grid cells which contain both dwarf chameleon localities and protected areas. While Bradypodion damaranum appears reasonably well protected, this is not the case for most of the other species. Steps in conservation planning, i.e. estimation of distribution and habitat limits, biological constraints, protection status, threats and an action plan, are set out.

A specific example of a conservation plan is provided using Bradypodion melanocephalum as a basis. This shows that the species is threatened by habitat destruction and modification over all of its range.

A detailed plan examines the threats and the conservation measures which can be taken to mitigate them.

Several recommendations for further research, such as further field investigation of presumed new taxa, are presented.

Three appendices provide

(1) an annotated checklist of the described species with distribution maps,

(2) a glossary of terms used in the report and

(3) a list of publications resulting from or incidental to the project.

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