We Love Animals
Animals

‘Smallest Reptile on Earth’ Discovered in Madagascar

Scientists believe they may have discovered the smallest reptile on earth – a chameleon subspecies that is the size of a seed.

Two of the tiny lizards were discovered by German and Madagascan researchers in Madagascar. The male version of the Brookesia nana, or nano-chameleon, has a body of just 13.5mm and is about the size of a sunflower seed. This makes it the smallest of about 11,500 known species of reptiles, according to the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology in Munich. Its length from top to tail is 22mm (0.86in) and is small enough to fit comfortably on a human fingertip.

“At the first glance, we realized that it was an important discovery”

The female in the species is bigger at around 29mm, the institute said, adding that other specimens were yet to be located. “The new chameleon is only known from a degraded montane rainforest in northern Madagascar and might be threatened by extinction,” said the Scientific Reports journal. “You have to really get down on your knees to find them,” Glaw told AP on Friday. “They are obviously camouflaged and move very slowly.”

Finding such a small reptile raises interesting questions about the lower limits of body size in vertebrates.

It also highlights the astonishing—and highly threatened—biodiversity of Madagascar. Scientists suspect the chameleon will soon be listed as critically endangered.

Still of nano-chameleon
“A spectacular case of extreme miniaturisation”

Oliver Hawlitschek, a scientist at the Center of Natural History in Hamburg, said: “The nano-chameleon’s habitat has unfortunately been subject to deforestation, but the area was placed under protection recently, so the species will survive.” Researchers found that it hunts for mites on the rainforest floor and hides from predators at night in blades of grass. “So this tiny new chameleon violates the pattern of the smallest species being found on small islands. That suggests that something else is allowing/causing these chameleons to miniaturise,” Said Dr Mark Scherz.

Its nearest competitor for the smallest reptile on earth trophy is a creature called Brookesia micra, another tiny chameleon species that made its debut in 2012, photographed atop the head of a match. “It feels a little silly to be like, ‘Oh, it’s a few millimeters smaller than this other thing,’” Scherz says. “But when millimeters are two or three percent of your body size, then that’s a lot of change.” “Most of science happens in these small, incremental steps,” Scherz adds.

The fact that only two individuals have been found of this species makes it difficult to generalize the findings. It’s possible that other chameleons in this species would be larger, or smaller, just like humans can be different heights.

Source: Kingdomstv

Related posts

20+ Pets Who Make Humans Jealous Of Their Vivid Facial Expressions

Carolyn Mullet

10+ Pets Who Are Good At Making Your Days More Cheerful

Carolyn Mullet

10+ Animals Who Have Incredible Expressions When Something Unexpected Happens

Carolyn Mullet

20+ Photos That Prove Your Life Will Never Be Peaceful If You Have A Cat

Carolyn Mullet

10+ Warm Photos Showing The Close Relationship Between Humans And Animals

Carolyn Mullet

Blind Raccoon Saves 2 Lost Kittens And Helps Them Find A Loving Human

Carolyn Mullet

Stunning Multi-Colored Giant Squirrels Spotted In Kodaikanal Forest Town, Tamil Nadu, India

Olivia

Elephant Interrupts Her Caretaker’s Talk, Bringing Her To See Her New Little Friend And Sing A Lullaby To Her

Olivia

The Banded Cotinga Is An Extremely Scarce Bird That Looks Fascinating In Cobalt Blue And Dark Magenta

Olivia

Neon Blue And Purple Plumage And Dark Wings, Banded Cotinga Is At The Center Of Attention!

Margot Nolan

Pomeranian Does Not Agree To Be On Diet, Having A Strong Response To It

Carolyn Mullet

Flame Bowerbird, A Stunning Bird With Crimson And Vibrant Orange Plumage

Margot Nolan