New locality record of Calumma vencesi (Madagascar)
Calumma vencesi occurs in northern Madagascar and has so far been found in Betaolana, Besariaka and Tsararano. A Madagascan research team has now discovered the species in another rainforest: Sorata. Sorata is part of the COMATSA corridor, which mainly consists of the Marojejy, Anjanaharibe Sud and Tsaratanana rainforests. Sorata, on the other hand, is located slightly further north towards Vohémar. The rainforest is currently managed by the WWF in collaboration with the local association Ambodimandresy Miaro ny Ala (AMA).
The scientists randomly distributed 14 transects in the rainforest, each consisting of three parallel lines of 50 m. Then, at night, they searched for sleeping chameleons along the transects with flashlights. The frequency of the species per 100 m was calculated, the plants used were documented and the sleeping height was measured.
A total of eight Calumma vencesi were found. They slept at an average branch height of 1.43 m, mostly on leaves, with a few individuals on branches. Five chameleons were found sleeping vertically, three more horizontally. Seven of the eight Calumma vencesi slept with their heads up, only one upside down.
The occurrence of only 0.38 individuals per 100 m is surprisingly low and even falls below that of chameleon species classified as critically endangered, such as Calumma tarzan. Until now, Calumma vencesi had only been found below 1000 m, but the study area in Sorata was at an average altitude of 1326 m. Calumma vencesi occurs in Sorata in the same distribution area as Brookesia nana, which makes the need to protect this rainforest even more urgent. The forest is threatened by slash-and-burn farming, illegal logging, grazing livestock and vanilla plantations.
A new locality for the endangered Vence’s Chamaeleon, Calumma vencesi Andreone et al., 2001, from Sorata Forest, northeastern Madagascar
Jeanneney Rabearivony, Andriatsitohaina Ranaivojaona, Moussaïna Jao, Achille P. Raselimanana
Herpetology Notes 18, 2025: 817-820.
DOI: not available
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Photo: Calumma vencesi, photographed by Asméralie William, from the aforementioned publication
Verbreitung Science