This irascible-looking little guy was recently discovered by biologists on the small island of Nosy Hara, in northern Madagascar. Members of this newly discovered species are on average an inch long from snout to tail tip, a remarkably tiny size that puts them among the world’s smallest reptiles. When not turning their baleful glares at the camera, they run around in a landscape of limestone boulders and leaf fragments and at night roost in low-hanging vegetation no more than a couple inches from the ground. Their diminutive size seems to be the evolutionary result of a phenomenon called island dwarfism, by which animals slowly shrink in size, perhaps in response to the limited resources available on an island (though it also goes the other way, a phenomenon called island gigantism, possibly a result of having few predators).
The species’ name, reflecting its tiny-ness, is Brookesia micra.
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February 15th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
I could have done without the super close-up of the fingernail, which looks like it needs to be trimmed, btw.
February 15th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Focus, Bob, focus … how soon will we see these in the pet store? Perfect for the mini-terrarium.
February 15th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
It’s not April already is it? How does such a tiny reptile maintain sufficient body heat to survive? There is a program that can check for photo shop like ‘enhancements’ was this photo checked?
February 15th, 2012 at 11:29 pm
I just hope he doesn’t scratch the match!
February 16th, 2012 at 7:48 am
I seriously doubt this was photoshop Iain..
February 16th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
@Bob — Do you have a thing about fingernails to make such an inane comment? This was a fascinating post.
February 16th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Awwwwwwwww,it’s so ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 16th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
@Ron, hopefully never! These little guys are rare, and they need to be left alone in their habitat. If you want to help them out, look into the forest preserve where they were found.
February 16th, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Es sorprendente y hermoso. Pero me queda la duda si no es un ejemplar recién salido del cascarón, aunque tiene pinta de adulto.
February 16th, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Wow, that’s the biggest finger I’ve ever seen.
But, seriously, in answer to response #8, **please** do not go trying to find these little guys in their native habitat. You could be the person who unwittingly brings in some devastating fungus that ends up decimating their population. Wait until your local aquarium acquires a couple of the little guys, then go look as much as you want to.
February 16th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
It is sooo cute and tiny. I love it.
February 16th, 2012 at 8:36 pm
I’m amazed that a fully developed eye can be so small. I assumed that the complexity of the organ required it to be bigger. I find this quite incredible.
February 17th, 2012 at 6:59 am
Wow. Sometimes I get real wake up calls on how delicate nature can be, and this is one of those rude awakenings.
February 18th, 2012 at 12:59 am
Amazing. I can’t imagine what helps them survive without being stepped on by something. He is a cutie. Nature, after all these years, still full of surprises.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
It’s so tiny. Madagascar could be a cool island to go visit because species evolve and diversify in isolation.
February 20th, 2012 at 10:40 am
how on earth do you not squish it be mistake?
February 20th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Nano technology in the animal world…
February 21st, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Mini Reptiles? Lock up the Reptile Fanatics!!!!!!!!! AND LOOK OUT FOR POACHERS
February 21st, 2012 at 5:51 pm
He’s just toooooo cute~!! Here’s hoping that mankind doesn’t obliterate him or the species~!
February 21st, 2012 at 6:13 pm
I hope this little guy survives for eons~!
February 22nd, 2012 at 5:10 pm
you never really know what might be lurking underneath you. Let’s all get together to preserve this fantastic creature and it’s environment
February 22nd, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Look at that scaly skin! And the chameleon looks kind of rough too.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:13 pm
@ Iain,
Madagascar is warm.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:59 pm
could these little guys be transplanted to kauai, hi. through proper channels to give them another island habitat to thrive? I have family there and they would help.