Furcifer nicosiai

The Furcifer verrucosus, F. nicosiai, F. oustaleti group is in need of major revision and probably contains as yet undescribed species (Glaw and Vences 2007). Previous records of this species from the Menabe Region appear to be a previously undescribed taxon (Raselimanana 2008).

This species is restricted to a relatively small area of western Madagascar, having a localized distribution in the Melaky Region just north of the Manambolo River (Raselimanana 2008). It is only known from the Parc National Tsingy de Bemaraha (Raselimanana 2008), although it is likely that it occurs further north (J.C. Randrianantoandro pers. comm. June 2011). The national park has an area of 1,566 km²; however, it is not exclusively covered by suitable forest habitat (J.C. Randrianantoandro pers. comm. June 2011) and so if the species is confined to this reserve, its true extent of occurrence will be somewhat less. There are elevational records from 57-571 m asl. (Bora et al. 2010).

The main threats to this species are the loss, degradation and fragmentation of dry deciduous forest in the Parc National de Tsingy de Bemaraha, especially at the periphery where this lizard has been recorded, from expanding agriculture, fire and logging (Randrianantoandro et al. 2008; J.C. Randrianantoandro pers. comm. June 2011).

This species is found inside the Parc National de Tsingy de Bemaraha (Raselimanana 2008). Management of this reserve is required to limit the encroachment of damaging human activities into this species' forest habitat, and this chameleon's exposure to and sensitivity to different threatening processes needs to be established. The taxonomy of this and related species requires clarification.