''Brookesia'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
chameleon
Chameleons or chamaeleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015. The members of this family are best known for their distinct range of colors, bein ...
s,
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
, that range from small to very small in size, and are known collectively as leaf chameleons (though this name also commonly is used for
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
in the
genera
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
''
Rieppeleon
''Rieppeleon'' is a genus of small, typically brown chameleons found in forests and savannas in central East Africa (extending slightly into adjacent DR Congo). They are found at low levels in bushes, or on the ground among grass or leaf litter. ...
'' and ''
Rhampholeon
''Rhampholeon'' is a genus of small chameleons, commonly known as pygmy chameleons or African leaf chameleons, found in central East Africa (extending slightly into adjacent DR Congo). They are found in forests, woodlands, thickets, and savanna, ...
''). ''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
Terrestrial refers to things related to land or the planet Earth.
Terrestrial may also refer to:
* Terrestrial animal, an animal that lives on land opposed to living in water, or sometimes an animal that lives on or near the ground, as opposed to ...
.
A significant percentage of the
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
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.
Etymology
The
generic name ''Brookesia'' is in honor of British naturalist
Joshua Brookes
Joshua Brookes (24 November 1761 – 10 January 1833) was a British anatomist and naturalist.
Early life
Brookes studied under William Hunter, William Hewson, Andrew Marshall, and John Sheldon, in London. He then attended the practice of ...
.
Conservation status
Most ''Brookesia'' are on
CITES
CITES (shorter name for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of interna ...
Appendix II, the only exception being ''B. perarmata'' on Appendix I (a species also listed as
endangered
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inva ...
and a newly discovered ''
Brookesia nana
''Brookesia nana'', also known as the nano-chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to montane rainforests in northern Madagascar. Described in 2021, it could represent the world's smallest reptile. Unlike some chameleons, ''Brookesia nana'' ...
'' listed as
Critically Endangered by
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
). 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
![Brookesia species male female (Journal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Brookesia_species_male_female_%28Journal.pone.0031314.g010%29.png)
The genus ''Brookesia'' contains the following 31 species which are recognized as being valid.
[. www.reptile-database.org]
*''
Brookesia antakarana
The Antakarana leaf chameleon, ''Brookesia antakarana'', is a species of chameleon.
It is endemic to Madagascar.
References
*
Brookesia
Near threatened animals
Vulnerable biota of Africa
chameleon
chameleon
Chameleons or chamaeleons ...
''
Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995
*''
Brookesia bekolosy
''Brookesia bekolosy'' also known as the Bekolosy leaf chameleon is a species of chameleon that is endemic to Madagascar. It was described by Raxworthy and Nussbaum in 1995. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classed the species a ...
''
Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995
*''
Brookesia betschi
''Brookesia betschi'', commonly known as Blanc's leaf chameleon or the Marojejy leaf chameleon, is a species of lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
Taxonomy
''B. betschi'' was originally described by à ...
''
Brygoo, Blanc
Blanc or le Blanc is a surname of French origin, meaning ''White''. Notable people with the surname include:
* Adolphe-Edmond Blanc (1799-1850), French politician
* Antoine Blanc (1792–1860), first Archbishop of New Orleans
* Antoine le Blanc (1 ...
& Domergue, 1974 – Blanc's leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia bonsi''
Ramanantsoa, 1980
*''
Brookesia brunoi''
Crottini et al., 2012
*''
Brookesia brygooi''
Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995 – leaf chameleon or Brygoo's chameleon
*''
Brookesia confidens''
Glaw et al., 2012
*''
Brookesia decaryi''
Angel
In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God.
Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...
, 1939 – spiny leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia dentata
The toothed leaf chameleon, ''Brookesia dentata'', is a species of chameleons endemic to northwestern Madagascar. It was first described by Mocquard in 1900: 345, and has been described numerous times since then, most recently by Townsend ''et a ...
''
Mocquard, 1900 – toothed leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia desperata''
Glaw et al., 2012
*''
Brookesia ebenaui''
( Boettger, 1880) – northern leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia exarmata''
Schimmenti & Jesu, 1996
*''
Brookesia griveaudi''
Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1974 – Marojejy leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia karchei''
Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1970 – naturelle leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia lambertoni''
Brygoo & Domergue, 1970 – Fito leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia lineata''
Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995
*''
Brookesia micra
''Brookesia micra'', also known as the Nosy Hara leaf chameleon is a species of chameleons from the islet of Nosy Hara in Antsiranana, Madagascar. At the time of its discovery, it was the smallest known chameleon and among the smallest reptiles ...
''
Glaw et al., 2012
*''
Brookesia minima
''Brookesia minima'', (common names of which include the dwarf chameleon, the Madagascan dwarf chameleon, the minute leaf chameleon, and the Nosy Be pygmy leaf chameleon), is a diminutive chameleon that was regarded as the smallest lizard of th ...
''
Boettger, 1893 – minute leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia nana
''Brookesia nana'', also known as the nano-chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to montane rainforests in northern Madagascar. Described in 2021, it could represent the world's smallest reptile. Unlike some chameleons, ''Brookesia nana'' ...
''
Glaw et al., 2021 – Nano-chameleon
*''
Brookesia perarmata''
(Angel
In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God.
Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...
, 1933) – Antsingy leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia peyrierasi
''Brookesia peyrierasi'' is a species of diminutive chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to north-eastern Madagascar. It is known commonly as Peyrieras's pygmy chameleon, named after the herpetologist Andr ...
''
Brygoo & Domergue, 1974 – Peyrieras's leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia ramanantsoai''
Brygoo & Domergue, 1975 – Ramanantsoa's minute leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia stumpffi
''Brookesia stumpffi'', also known as the plated leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in some parts of Madagascar. It can be found in Nosy Bé, north-west Madagascar, Nosy Komba, and Nosy Sakatia.
Taxonomy
''Brookesia stumpffi'' was ...
''
Boettger, 1894 – plated leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia superciliaris
The brown leaf chameleon or stump-tailed chameleon (''Brookesia superciliaris'') is a small chameleon found along the eastern coast of Madagascar, as well as the island of Nosy Boraha. Its appearance mimics that of a dead leaf. The taxonomy is in ...
''
(Kuhl
KUHL (1440 AM broadcasting, AM) is a commercial radio station that is City of license, licensed to Santa Maria, California and serves the Santa Maria, California, Santa Maria—Lompoc, California area. The station is owned by Knight Broadcasting ...
, 1820) – brown leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia tedi''
Scherz
Scherz is a former municipality in the district of Brugg in canton of Aargau in Switzerland. On 1 January 2018 the former municipality of Scherz merged into the municipality of Lupfig.
Geography
Scherz has an area, , of . Of this area, or 5 ...
, J. Kohler, Rakotoarison, Glaw & Vences, 2019
*''
Brookesia therezieni''
Brygoo & Domergue, 1970 – Perinet leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia thieli''
Brygoo & Domergue, 1969 – Domergue's leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia tristis''
Glaw et al., 2012
*''
Brookesia tuberculata
The Mount d'Ambre leaf chameleon (''Brookesia tuberculata'') is a diminutive chameleon from far northern Madagascar.
Similar species
A 1999 paper in the ''Journal of Zoology'' disputed a 1995 paper which considered this species and '' B. peyrie ...
''
Mocquard, 1894 – Mount d'Ambre leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia vadoni''
Brygoo & Domergue, 1968 – Iaraka River leaf chameleon, mossy pygmy leaf chameleon
*''
Brookesia valerieae''
Raxworthy, 1991 – Raxworthy's leaf chameleon
''
Nota bene
(, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well".
It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature
and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atten ...
'': A
binomial authority
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Brookesia''.
See also
*
Island dwarfism
Insular dwarfism, a form of phyletic dwarfism, is the process and condition of large animals evolving or having a reduced body size when their population's range is limited to a small environment, primarily islands. This natural process is disti ...
References
Further reading
*
Gray JE (1864). "Revision of the Genera and Species of Chamæleonidæ, with the Description of some New Species". ''Proc. Zool. Soc. London'' 1864: 465-477 + Plates XXXI & XXXII. (''Brookesia'', new genus, pp. 476–477).
External links
*CITES
Appendices I, II and III.Accessed 23-01-2009.
*
Glaw F,
Vences M (2007). ''A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Third Edition.'' Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag. 496 pp. .
{{Taxonbar, from=Q133154
Lizard genera
Taxa named by John Edward Gray