Newly discovered chameleon species can fit on a human fingertip

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Scientists have discovered a tiny new species of chameleon in a patch of rainforest in northern Madagascar. This so-called nano-chameleon is about the size of a sunflower seed, fits on the tip of a finger, and may be the smallest reptile on Earth.

Officially known as Brookesia nana, or B. nana for short, the new species is so tiny it’s thought to survive on a diet of mites and springtails, which it hunts down in leaf litter.

 

“At the first glance, we realized that it was an important discovery,” says Andolalao Rakotoarison, a Malagasy herpetologist and coauthor of the new study.

Like other chameleons, this tiny reptile possesses a projectile tongue which it uses to nab prey. The creatures have found a successful niche in their native habitat, hunting by day on the rainforest floor and retreating to the safety of grass blades at night.

Researchers suspect this nano-chameleon may hold the title of the world’s smallest reptile. Its nearest competitor is a creature called Brookesia micra, an itty bitty chameleon species that made its debut in 2012, photographed atop the head of a match.

 

Source - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/tiny-chameleon-smallest-reptile-discovered-madagascar?

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4 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

Officially known as Brookesia nana, or B. nana

That's so cute!

 

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This is Brookesia micra - the other contender for the title of smallest chameleon, I feel like is this is likely the one tbh.

 

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I love him