Brookesia micra

Brookesia micra was first discovered in 2007 on the island of Nosy-Hara north of Madagascar and described in 2012 during research there by a research team led by German zoologist Frank Glou.

Chameleons Brookesia micra , reaching a length of 23-29 mm, are among the smallest reptiles of the planet. They inhabit the northern tip of Madagascar, and only on the island Nosu-Hara. Females 26–29 mm long (with a body length of 18–19 mm without a tail) are larger than males (22–23.5 mm), the head of animals is more stretched forward than in width. Eyes bulging, 2-2.5 mm in diameter (in females) and 1.7-2.2 mm in males. The dorsal crest starts from the posterior margin of the eye line and ends at the base of the tail. There are 11 (occasionally 12) spines on the lizard's back. On the head - a small comb.

The color of Brookesia micra in a calm state is dark brown, only under their eyes are beige spots. In case of danger, the brown skin of the animal is covered with gray-green spots. The head and its comb in such situations become gray-brown, and the tail becomes yellow, on the tip of the tail - orange.

Brookesia micra is common only in two geographically limited areas of the north Madagascar island of Nosu-Hara. Animals inhabit tropical forests growing in arid climates. During the daytime, Brookesia micra moves among the limestone rocks and the fallen leaves, while at night they rise to the lowered branches of the trees (to a height of 5-10 cm).

Inside the Brookesia genus, the Brookesia micra species belongs to the Brookesia minima group , which unites several species of lizards of this genus of the smallest size and lives in the northern regions of Madagascar.

• Frank Glaw, Jörn Köhler, Ted M. Townsend, Miguel Vences: Rivaling the World's Smallest Reptiles: Discovery of the Miniaturized and Microendemic (North of the Madagascar). B: PLoS ONE 7 (2), 2012. e31314, S. 1-24. doi: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0031314