Taxonomic notes: This species was previously referred to as Brookesia sp. Montagne des Francais and Brookesia sp. nov.

This leaf chameleon is endemic to Madagascar where it is only known from the Montagne des Francais limestone massif in the north where it is thought to occupy an area of less than 65 km² (Glaw et al. 2012).

This species inhabits dry deciduous forest on limestone karst in northern Madagascar (Glaw et al. 2012). Its patchy distribution suggests that it has a preferred micro-climate. It is a forest specialist and is not considered to be tolerant of habitat alteration. It lays two large eggs towards the end of the wet season (Glaw et al. 2012).

There is no quantitative information on the population abundance or trends of this species (Glaw et al. 2012). Within its distribution, it can be locally abundant in some areas and absent from others, suggesting that it has a patchy distribution.

This species it not traded nor is it known to be used for any other reason. All members of the Brookesia genus are included on CITES Appendix II and are therefore subject to international trade regulations.

Although this species' distribution falls entirely within a recently established protected area at Montagne des Francais, it is nevertheless under threat from deforestation due to clearance for agriculture, harvesting of wood, and subsequent grazing of cleared areas (D’Cruze et al. 2007), which are ongoing despite the protected status.  The forest is isolated due to human activities that have transformed the landscape, and forest is thought to have once been connected to other larger forest blocks (D’Cruze et al. 2007). As such, the forest has been reduced in extent, and the remaining fragment is disturbed and degraded. Because Brookesia tristis is a forest habitat specialist, these impacts on the forest are considered a threat to this species.  

• 2.1.1 Shifting agriculture

Montagne des Francais limestone outcrop and forest is under management as a protected area (Glaw et al. 2012). Despite this, the area is still threatened with habitat loss. To ensure the survival of this species, Brookesia tristis would benefit from stronger management of the protected area that promotes sustainable agriculture and resource use and includes monitoring of resource extraction (see Megson et al. 2009).

Listed as Critically Endangered on the basis that it has an extent of occurrence of at most 50 km², it is known from a single location, and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.

• D'Cruze, N., Sabel, J., Green, K., Dawson, J., Gardener, J., Robinson, C., Starkie, G., Vences, M. and Glaw, F. 2007. The first comprehensive survey of amphibians and reptiles at Montagne Des Francais, Madagascar. Herpetological Conservation 2(2): 87-99.
• Glaw F., Köhler J., Townsend T.M. and Vences, M. 2012. Rivaling the world’s smallest reptiles: discovery of miniaturized and microendemic new species of leaf chameleons (Brookesia) from Northern Madagascar. PLoS ONE 7(2): e31314. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031314.
• IUCN. 2014. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 13 November 2014).
• Megson, S., Mitchell, P., Köhler, J., Marsh, C., Franzen, M., Glaw, F. and D'Cruze, N.C. 2009. A comprehensive survey of amphibians and reptiles in the extreme north of Madagascar. Herpetology Notes 2: 31-44.