Mountain summits in Madagascar generally have species with specific habitat requirements, providing a home to a unique and locally endemic herpetofauna. Among them is M. pauliani, a typically aquatic and critically endangered amphibian found on the Ankaratra Massif. This species inhabits high elevations with a limited distribution range. Our study aimed to present new data on the distribution and elevational range, habitat use, and threats to M. pauliani and its occurrence according to habitat changes. To achieve this, annual monitoring was carried out from 2018 to 2021. Nine 100 m transects were established along streams at elevations ranging from 1762 to 2378 m a.s.l. along which we conducted visual encounter surveys. Data analysis was performed using a χ² test and Factor Correspondence Analysis. We found that M. pauliani occupies elevations between 1900 and 2378 m a.s.l. within humid forests and savannah habitats. The results showed a fluctuation in the number of animals observed and a higher occurrence at higher elevations throughout the years according to the season, stream quality, and water volume. Ongoing habitat alteration makes M. pauliani vulnerable to population decline, with annual bushfires likely having a negative impact on habitat.

The harmonious landscape of Montagne des Français is a protected area in the far north of Madagascar. Our herpetofauna surveys were conducted on the eastern and western slopes according to habitat variations within the massif for 2014 and 2020. Our research updates the herpetofauna species richness, spatial distribution ranges, and ecological guilds within the protected area. We used direct opportunistic observations, systematic refuge examinations, and pitfall traps with drift fences at three sites to sample animals. Nineteen amphibian and fifty reptile species were recorded during this study. Three amphibian species and one reptile species, in addition to the snake Langaha pseudoalluaudi, last recorded in 2007, were discovered at Montagne des Français. Here, we present a database update for the herpetofauna species from Montagne des Français and provide a specific morphological description of the morphospecies considered as a new extension or localized distribution. This new database can help site managers develop new strategic conservation plans in response to habitat modification.

Mountain summit in Madagascar have generally a specific habitat and that figure home a local endemicity of herpetofauna. Mantidactylus pauliani, a typically aquatic and critically endangered amphibian from Ankaratra Mountain, is among of them. This species inhabits high elevation with restricted distribution range. Our study highlights here a new data of this species and its viability with environmental change. So that, we carried out annual monitoring from 2018 to 2021. Nine fixed transects of 100 m were done along the streams between 1762 and 2378 m a.s.l. We followed the herpetofaunal standard technique for collecting data (systematic ecological niche searching and direct observation), and data analysis was performed using χ² tests and Fac-tor Correspondence Analysis. Here we present the new ecological data of M. pauliani. This spe-cies home between 1900 - 2378 m a.s.l. within the humid forest and savannah habitat. We noticed also a fluctuation in population size and migration to the upper throughout the years across the season, and the stream quality and volume of water variation. This habitat change makes it vul-nerable and the annual bushfire surrounding plays a negative impact. Knowledge and under-standing of its ecological guilds is needed for running and updating conservation activities

The Harmonious Protected Landscape of Ambohitr'Antsingy Montagne des Français is one of the protected area located in the extreme northern of Madagascar. An assessment of the Herpe-tofauna community were made on the eastern and western slopes regarding the forest degrada-tion level, the availability of the streams and the habitat types in the massif during the years of 2014 and 2020. This survey was done in order to updating the herpetofaunal database and re-cording the distribution ranges of the Herpetofauna community in the PA. Three methods were used, including direct observation, systematic microhabitat searching and pitfall-traps with drift fences at three sampling sites during the day and night with headlamp. Twenty species of am-phibians and 50 species of reptiles were recorded. Four species of Amphibians, and 03 species of Reptiles (snake) are potentially new to science and/or newly recorded at Montagne des Français. One snake (Langaha pseudoalluaudi) last inventoried in 2007 has reappeared during this investiga-tion. Here, we present the mapping of all species recorded. This new database can help the manager site to update the management plan to guarantee the herpetofaunal conservation facing habitat change. That is what we think also for all of the current PA in Madagascar.