creature can perch on a match head.
A species of chameleon small enough to
easily perch on a match head has been
discovered on a tiny island off Madagascar, a
group of scientists has announced.
In addition to the discovery of Brookesia
micra, now the tiniest chameleon ever
discovered, the researchers also announced
the discovery of three additional tiny
chameleon species.
Adult males of the B. micra species grow to
only just over a half-inch (16 millimeters)
from nose to bottom, making them one of
the smallest vertebrates ever found on Earth.
From nose to tail, adults of both sexes grow
to only 1 inch (30 mm) in length.
Lead researcher Frank Glaw said the team
already had experience finding tiny lizards
in Madagascar, "but it was also good luck."
The team searched for the tiny lizards under
the cover of darkness, using headlamps and
flashlights to seek out the sleeping
chameleons. All four species are active
during the day, and at night climb up into
the branches to sleep.
But for such tiny critters, "up into the
branches" means a mere 4 inches (10
centimeters) off the ground, Glaw told
OurAmazingPlanet, so finding them is no
easy task. However, once spotted, the tiny
lizards aren't tough to catch, Glaw said.
"They are sleeping and you can just pick
them up. It's like picking a strawberry, so it's
easy," Glaw said. "They do not move at all at
night."
The team of scientists found the tiny reptiles
in Madagascar's wild northern regions
during expeditions between 2003 and
2007. For three of the species, "we
immediately identified them as new
species," said Glaw, a veteran herpetologist
and curator at the Museum of Natural
History in Munich.
"In general, these tiny chameleons are so
small that it's really hard to see the small
differences with the naked eye," he said.
The researchers warn that at least two of
the newly discovered chameleon species are
extremely threatened because of habitat
loss and deforestation in Madagascar.
Glaw, who has been going to Madagascar to
research its ever-expanding list of
amphibians and reptiles for a quarter
century, said that B. micra may represent the
limit of miniaturization possible for a
vertebrate with complex eyes, but said it's
impossible to know for sure since each time
scientists have proclaimed the discovery of
the tiniest one yet, another, tinier species
appears.
"Maybe there's a potential for a smaller
species," Glaw said.
Another group of researchers recently
announced the discovery of the world's
smallest frog species in Papua New Guinea.
The scientists also declared it the world's
smallest vertebrate, but others contend that
a species of angler fish is the smallest
vertebrate yet discovered on Earth.
Glaw is planning another expedition to the
region of Madagascar in November.
"I'm sure there are many surprises awaiting
discovery," he said.
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