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Brookesia

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

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

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Brookesia.

See also

References

Further reading

  • Gray JE (1864). "Revision of the Genera and Species of Chamæleonidæ, with the Description of some New Species". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of 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, (2007). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Third Edition. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag. 496 pp. .