

Madagascar minis

Brookesia micra. Courtesy of National Geographic

Four new, extremely small, chameleon species have been discovered in Madagascar. If you have read my blogs before, you  already know that I am obsessed with both chameleons and miniature animals; so naturally I was over the moon about this new scientific discovery.

The  four new species fall under the genus Brookesia; known as leaf chameleons. These chameleons are now considered some of the smallest reptiles in the world. The smallest of the four, Brookesia micra, measures in at the adult size of about 1 inch, or 2.9 centimeters.  (see photos here)

The newly discovered species went through a process known as “island dwarfism” to become as small as they are now. This evolutionary development is common on remote islands, as animals face limited resources and competition. Shrinking in size is a successful evolutionary technique, as smaller animals need less food and can reproduce faster.

These spectacular reptiles are unfortunately in great danger of becoming extinct. Already rare, their Madagascar, rainforest homes are being demolished. With the deforestation, the rare reptiles will struggle to find food and shelter and their numbers will dwindle. It would be a terrible loss to the world if we let these tiny reptiles slip through our fingers, as they can teach us so much about evolution.

Jennifer O'Connor, The College of Saint Rose