Oustalet's Giant Chameleon
Furcifer oustaleti
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyChamaeleonidae (Chameleons)
- GenusFurcifer (Fork-footed Chameleons)
- SpeciesFurcifer oustaleti (Oustalet's Giant Chameleon)
About the Oustalet's Giant Chameleon
The Malagasy giant chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti), also known commonly as Oustalet's chameleon, is a large species of chameleon which is native throughout Madagascar, but has also been introduced near Nairobi in Kenya (though its current status there is unclear) and in Miami-Dade County in the United States. It occurs in a wide range of habitats, even among degraded vegetation within villages, but is relatively rare in the interior of primary forest.
Furcifer oustaleti is endemic to Madagascar and is found throughout the island. It inhabits a very wide range of habitats including dry deciduous forest, humid evergreen forest, montane savanna, degraded forests, agricultural areas and even urban settings. It is seldom found deep in the forest interior, preferring the forest edges instead.
With a maximum total length (tail included) of 68.5 cm (27 in), Furcifer oustaleti is generally considered the world's largest species of chameleon by this measurement. Exceptionally large Calumma parsonii (Parson's chameleon) and Trioceros melleri (Meller's chameleon) have been claimed to reach even greater lengths, but this remains unverified. F. oustaleti... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Oustalet's Giant Chameleon in Ankarafantsika National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Ankarafantsika National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ankarafantsika National Park | 🇲🇬 Madagascar | |
| 2 | Ranomafana National Park | 🇲🇬 Madagascar |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Oustalet's Giant Chameleon in Ankarafantsika National Park?
About 90% of wildlife watchers report a Oustalet's Giant Chameleon sighting in Ankarafantsika National Park, based on 109 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Oustalet's Giant Chameleon in Ankarafantsika National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Oustalet's Giant Chameleon in Ankarafantsika National Park in our monthly data.