Brookesia nana

Brookesia nana, also known as the nano-chameleon, is a species of chameleon in the brookesia genus that is endemic in the montane rainforest in northern Madagascar.[1] It was described in 2021, and it could be the world's smallest reptile.[2] It is a blotchy brown color and usually grows to a full-length of under one inch. Unlike most other chameleons Brookesia nana does not change colors and does not live in trees in the forest, but prefers the forest floor. Another distinguishing feature from other chameleons is that the females are generally larger than the males, probably so the females can accommodate carrying eggs. It is a mystery why it is so small when other vertebrates grow as they mature.[3]

Brookesia nana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Brookesia
Species:
B. nana
Binomial name
Brookesia nana

The species was discovered by herpetologist Frank Glaw and other German researchers in 2012 in a rainforest in Madagascar. It is likely that the species is endangered.[3]

References
  1. Bittel, Jason (1 February 2021). "New chameleon species may be world's smallest reptile". National Geographic. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  2. Glaw, Frank; Köhler, Jörn; Hawlitschek, Oliver; Ratsoavina, Fanomezana M.; Rakotoarison, Andolalao; Scherz, Mark D.; Vences, Miguel (28 January 2021). "Extreme miniaturization of a new amniote vertebrate and insights into the evolution of genital size in chameleons". Scientific Reports. 11 (1): 2522. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-80955-1. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 7844282. PMID 33510189.
  3. CNN, Scottie Andrew. "A newly discovered chameleon less than an inch long could be the world's smallest reptile". CNN. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
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