Brookesia - WikiHQ

Brookesia is a genus of chameleons, lizards in the family Chamaeleonidae. The genus is endemic to Madagascar. Member species range from small to very small in size, and are known collectively as leaf chameleons (though this common name is also used for species in the genera Rieppeleon and Rhampholeon). Brookesia includes species considered to be the world's smallest chameleons, and are also among the smallest reptiles. Members of the genus Brookesia are largely brown, and most are essentially terrestrial.

A significant percentage of the species in the genus were only identified to science within the last three decades, and a number of species that still have not received a scientific name are known to exist. Most inhabit very small ranges in areas that are difficult to access, and due to their small size and secretive nature, they have been relatively poorly studied compared to their larger relatives.

Brookesia are abundant in low-disturbance riparian zones and low-disturbance rainforests. Brookesia are scarce in high-disturbance forests recovering from burning. As of 2024, Brookesia nofy is the most recently described new species in the subfamily Brookesiinae. A different species, B. nana, is the first chameleon known not to change colors.

Etymology

The generic name Brookesia is in honor of British naturalist Joshua Brookes.

Conservation status

Most Brookesia are on CITES Appendix II, the only exception being B. perarmata on Appendix I (a species also listed as endangered and a newly discovered Brookesia nana listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN). Consequently, a special permit is required to import any of the below species from their native Madagascar, and typically no permit is issued for B. perarmata.

Species

right|thumb|[[Brookesia desperata female, stress-coloured, with two recently laid eggs.]]

thumb|[[Brookesia nana (male), the world's smallest known reptile species]]

thumb|right|300px|alt=Panel of eight pictures showing males and females of four leaf chameleon species.|Males (left) and females (right) of four Brookesia species described in 2012, all belonging to the [[Brookesia minima|B. minima species group: A-B B. tristis, C-D B. confidens, E-F B. micra, G-H B. desperata]]

The genus Brookesia contains the following 32 species which are recognized as being valid.

Brookesia antakarana – Antakarana Leaf Chameleon Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995
Brookesia bekolosy – Bekolosy Leaf Chameleon Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995
Brookesia betschi – Blank's Leaf Chameleon Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1974
Brookesia bonsi – Namoroka Leaf Chameleon Ramanantsoa, 1980
Brookesia brunoi – Anja Reserve Leaf Chameleon Crottini et al., 2012
Brookesia brygooi Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995 – leaf chameleon or Brygoo's chameleon
Brookesia confidens Glaw et al., 2012