Brookesia thieli: Hidden Heights in Maromizaha
Brookesia thieli is a small leaf chameleon endemic to Madagascar, assessed by the IUCN as Near Threatened due to ongoing habitat loss. Typically, this species is described as perching close to the ground, often within 10–50 cm above the forest floor at night, where its cryptic coloration blends with leaf litter and low vegetation.
A surprising observation in Maromizaha Forest revealed an adult male B. thieli roosting at an extraordinary height of 2,5m, 3m and even 4.5 m. For such diminutive reptiles, this challenges assumptions about their vertical niche. Our field data may be biased: small-bodied chameleons are easily overlooked at several meters above eye level.
A parallel case involves the syntopic Calumma roaloco, which shows densities up to 20 times lower at 1–2 m compared to optimal habitats where individuals perch above 7 m. These findings highlight the need to reconsider survey methods and vertical stratification in chameleon ecology.
