The fork-nosed chameleon is one of the smaller members of the genus Calumma, reaching a total length of only 5-6 inches. C. furcifer inhabits the grass tufts and and bushes of the rainforests of eastern and central Madagascar.

The head is smooth with lateral and parietal crests only weakly developed or absent. A raised casque is absent although weakly developed occipital lobes are present. Males exhibit a forked rostral process covered with enlarged, plate-like scales. Both sexes lack gular and ventral crests but a dorsal crest of regularly spaced conical scales is present. Basic body coloration varies from brown to green with a rust to cream-colored stripe extending along the flanks from just behind the head to the area above the hind legs. Two darker spots may be present along this stripe. A double white line appears on the ventrum, extending from the throat to middle of the tail.

Virtually nothing is known about the captive husbandry of this species.