mulanje chameleon

The Mulanje Mountain Chameleon (Nadzikambia mlanjensis) is a small, forest‑dwelling reptile found only on Mount Mulanje in Malawi. It belongs to a little‑known and small genus — one of only two species in the genus Nadzikambia — and is considered “plesiomorphic,” meaning it retains ancestral traits compared to more derived chameleons.

Because its entire known population is confined to a few isolated forest patches on a single mountain, the Mulanje chameleon is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. Over recent decades, human activities such as logging, forest clearing for agriculture or plantations, fuel‑wood harvesting and habitat fragmentation have degraded much of its forest habitat. Indeed, recent surveys have found no individuals in many locations previously thought to hold populations, raising serious concern that the species may already be on the brink of extinction in the wild.

Given its restricted range, critical habitat dependence, uncertain but likely very small population, and mounting threats — both anthropogenic and environmental — the Mulanje Mountain Chameleon stands among the reptiles most in need of urgent conservation attention. Protecting and restoring remaining forest patches on Mount Mulanje, preventing further deforestation, and conducting detailed field surveys to clarify its distribution and numbers are essential first steps toward preventing its extinction.