Furcifer belalandaensis, One of the Rarest Chameleons Studied in the Wild
Furcifer belalandaensis has been described as Chamaeleo belalandaensis by BRYGOO & DOMERGUE in 1970 from the village of Belalanda in SE Madagascar. Due to its restricted range and its remoteness, it has been reported very rarely and almost nothing is known about its biology.
The Belalanda Chameleon (Furcifer belalandaensis) was last assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2011, where it is listed as Critically Endangered under criteria B1ab(iii,v).
This species is endemic to Madagascar, specifically found in two localities near sea level (18-20 m), Belalanda and Sakabera, both near Toliara in the southwest. Its range may be as limited as 4 km². The population is very small and likely decreasing due to the removal of individuals for export and the loss of large trees within its habitat.
Its habitat consists mainly of mature trees along the Fiherenana River and in the villages of Belalanda and Sakabera. Originally, the species thrived in gallery forest, which has been completely lost; now, it is found in non-native trees and remnant native trees, reaching heights of 10-12 m in the canopy.
A new population of the critically endangered Belalanda chameleon has been discovered in Madagascar, marking a first for this rare reptile. Supported by the Conservation Leadership Programme, a team of Malagasy conservationists found the Belalanda chameleon in an area where it had never been documented before. While chameleons are known for their ability to camouflage, those in south-west Madagascar face permanent disappearance due to various threats, including deforestation, habitat fragmentation, urban expansion, wildfires, mining, unsustainable harvesting, and climate change.The Belalanda chameleon has one of the planet's most restricted ranges—just four square kilometres! The discovery of two males and one female, located about five kilometres beyond their usual territory, brings new hope for this vibrant lizard. A collaborative effort involving conservationists and local communities is underway to locate and safeguard remaining individuals. Team leader Hajaniaina Rasoloarison notes it's too early to determine how many Belalanda chameleons still exist in the wild, but they aim to estimate population density by the project's conclusion.