It all started a year ago when Patrick Andriamihaja, a wildlife photographer and tourist in the region, discovered a small chameleon with his local guide in Ankanin’ny Nofy, in western Madagascar. He shared several photos of the animal on FacebookFacebook under the provisional name of ” Brookesia sp. Palmarium “, named after the reserve where it was discovered.
These photos quickly attracted the attention of researchers. Miguel Vences, a reptile specialist at the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany, and a team of Malagasy collaborators, Alida Frankline Hasiniaina and Andolalao Rakotoarison, then set out to find specimens of this potential new species.
After venturing into the forest, they encountered a dozen chameleons of the species and managed to capture the first official samples. The species was made official in a study published by the team in September in the scientific journal Zootaxa. His new name, Brookesia nofy.
Brookesia, a genus of chameleons known for their small size
Although tiny, Brookesia nofy is not the world’s smallest chameleon, a title held by Brookesia nanawhich is only 22 millimeters long. The new species is slightly larger, at 33 millimeters long. As B. nanait was discovered in Madagascar, this time in the forest in the north of the island.
These chameleons, nicknamed ” leaf chameleons ” by English speakers, are known for their leaf-like appearance and small size, which allows them to camouflage themselves effectively in their forest environment.
Strangeness of life: discover the smallest reptile in the world
An endangered species
The researchers point out in the study that Brookesia nofy is probably critically endangered. The massive destruction of Madagascar’s rainforests in recent decades poses a real threat to the survival of the species endemicendemicThe island’s forests have been severely affected by fires and slash-and-burn clearing.
The patch of forest where it was discovered is a private reserve owned by a hotel. If Brookesia nofy has been able to survive, it is probably partly thanks to the protection offered by this forest. Since the announcement of this discovery, locals and tourists, familiar with this hotel, express their gratitude to the owners of the reserve on the social networkssocial networks.
