The Mysterious Chameleons of Antsanitia
For over two decades, the organisation ARC, preceded by EDEN, has worked tirelessly in western Madagascar to restore natural forests through large-scale reforestation and community development programs. One of their most remarkable project sites is Antsanitia, a location beloved by the people of Mahajanga as a weekend retreat thanks to its peaceful beach and tranquil atmosphere.
Beyond the coastline lies a hidden treasure: a small but precious patch of dry deciduous forest. This forest, part of the Antsanitia Lodge's private reserve and surrounding reforestation sites, is a vulnerable refuge. Its limited size and the frequent fires in the surrounding landscape make it a fragile sanctuary for unique flora and fauna. Among its most enigmatic inhabitants are three remarkable chameleon forms.
1. The Giant Oustalet's Chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti)
The Oustalet's Chameleon is the most common species in Antsanitia. It thrives across the forest and even adapts to degraded savanna landscapes, provided there are shrubs or trees to climb. Its sheer size and adaptability make it a dominant presence, yet it remains a gentle giant of Madagascar's reptile world.
2. The Angel's Chameleon (Furcifer angeli)
Far more elusive, the Angel's Chameleon is confined to the intact margins and interior of the Antsanitia forest. Unlike Oustalet's, it avoids disturbed habitats, making this enclave one of the few strongholds for the species in the region.
Beyond Antsanitia, populations occur in isolated forest patches, i.a. in Ankilahila, Mariarano, Katsepy, Fara Be, Tsingy de Namorok, and Ankarafantsika and even in some gardens in Mahajanga. Intriguingly, individuals from Ankilahila differ in size, coloration, and morphology from those in Ankarafantsika—the type locality described by Brygoo & Domergue in 1968. These differences hint at unresolved taxonomic questions, and future research may reveal hidden diversity within what is currently recognized as Furcifer angeli.
3. The Cryptic Brookesia sp.
Occasionally, tiny leaf chameleons (Brookesia) are encountered in Antsanitia. Initially thought to be Brookesia decaryi, they differ significantly in morphology and size. Their traits suggest possible affinity with the little-known Brookesia bonsi from Tsingy de Namorok. Whether these Antsanitia specimens represent a local variant, a cryptic population, or an entirely new species remains a mystery awaiting scientific investigation.
all pics from Antsanitia, photo courtesy Jamie Shattenberg
A Fragile Refuge
The Antsanitia forest is more than a tourist retreat—it is a living laboratory of Madagascar's biodiversity. Its chameleons embody both resilience and vulnerability: Oustalet's adapting to human-altered landscapes, Angel's clinging to intact forest enclaves, and the cryptic Brookesia whispering of evolutionary secrets yet to be uncovered.
Protecting this forest means safeguarding not only trees and soil, but also the mystery of Madagascar's chameleons, whose stories are still being written.