Hanging Above a Fragment of Ancient Forest – Ambohitantely

Ambohitantely is a high‑plateau rainforest fragment in central Madagascar, northwest of Ankazobe, protected as a Special Reserve and known for its unique mix of humid‑forest and highland species. Its isolation has produced distinct local forms across many taxa. Among chameleons, Brookesia thieli, Calumma globifer, C. gastrotaenia, C. fallax, and C. brevicorne occur inside or around the forest blocks, while Furcifer oustaleti, F. wilsii and F. lateralis inhabit the surrounding savanna and forest edges. All the Calumma populations show morphological differences compared to other regions, and it is possible they represent candidate species.

Ambohitantely's fauna reflects long isolation: tiny forest patches, steep slopes, and dense canopy conceal animals that differ subtly from their relatives elsewhere. The chameleons are emblematic of this pattern — each population slightly divergent, shaped by a forest that has become an island.