A miniature reptile escapes deforestation. On the eastern coast of Madagascar, a curious chameleon has recently captured the attention of scientists.
Invisible to the untrained eye, it was discovered thanks to tourists. This species hides in the endangered tropical forest.
A leaf chameleon from the new species Brookesia nofy, found in Madagascar.
Andolalao Rakotoarison
This is a chameleon barely 1.3 inches (33 mm) long, named
Brookesia nofy. Its name echoes the reserve where it was spotted. Photos taken by a visitor caught the attention of a research team led by Miguel Vences, a reptile expert at the Technical University of Braunschweig.
Accompanied by Malagasy scientists, Miguel Vences confirmed the existence of this species during an expedition in the Ankanin'ny Nofy forest. These chameleons, which resemble dead leaves, blend perfectly into their environment, making them difficult to spot.
The discovery of
Brookesia nofy highlights a threatened biodiversity. These miniature chameleons are endemic to Madagascar. However, deforestation caused by agricultural practices and fires has devastated much of their natural habitat.
A study, published in the journal
Zootaxa, officially recognized the species. Although larger than the
Brookesia nana, this new species is no less vulnerable. It likely survived only thanks to the protection of this privately-owned forest patch. In fact, it had already been photographed 5 years ago, but at that time scientists couldn't obtain a specimen due to wildfires that destroyed the forest where it had been photographed.
The "leaf-chameleon" is among the smallest species in the world. Their tiny size, an adaption to evade predators, is no longer sufficient to protect them from human activity. Therefore, preserving their habitats is essential for their survival.
What is the Brookesia genus?
The
Brookesia genus consists of miniature chameleons, mostly endemic to Madagascar. They are distinguished by their extremely small size (the smallest, named
Brookesia nana, measures only 0.9 inches [22 mm]), and their appearance, which mimics dead leaves. These traits make them expert camouflage artists.
These chameleons live in tropical and coastal forests, habitats particularly vulnerable to deforestation. The destruction of these ecosystems for agriculture, wildfires, and logging significantly reduces their living space.
Author of the article: Cédric DEPOND