6 months ago
243
6
Posted On: April 16th 2026, 06:12 pm
A fully grown adult chameleon belonging to a new species discovered in 2024 ‘Brookesia Nofy’, found in Madagascar
The Brookesia nofy, formally described in September 2024, is the latest addition to Madagascar’s incredible roster of “miniature” chameleons. While many imagine chameleons as large, color-changing lizards, a “fully grown adult” of this species is essentially a living grain of rice with legs.
The “Adult” Specs
Don’t let the “fully grown” label fool you—this is one of the smallest vertebrates on Earth.
• Size: An adult male reaches a total length of approximately 33 mm (about 1.3 inches).
• The Snout-Vent Length (SVL): From the tip of its nose to its “bottom,” it measures only about 20.5 mm.
• Appearance: Like other leaf chameleons, it has cryptic coloration (shades of brown and beige) and specialized rows of bumps (tubercles) along its spine that allow it to disappear into the dead leaves of the forest floor.
Why It’s a “Dream” Discovery
The name “Nofy” is the Malagasy word for “dream”. Scientists named it this for two reasons:
1. The Location: It was discovered in the Ankanin’ny Nofy (“Nest of Dreams”) reserve on the east coast of Madagascar.
2. The Miracle: It was considered a “dream” that such a tiny creature could survive in the littoral forests—one of the most critically threatened habitats in the world, which has been decimated by deforestation and agriculture.
The “Tourist” Discovery (2024 Viral Origins)
In a classic 2024 twist, this species wasn’t initially found by a scientific expedition deep in the jungle. Instead, tourist photographs posted on Facebook and other social media sites alerted researchers to its existence. Tourists visiting the popular Ankanin’ny Nofy park had been snapping photos of the tiny lizards for years, labeling them simply as “mini chameleons,” before scientists realized they were looking at a distinct, undocumented species.
Where Does It Rank?
While Brookesia nofy is tiny, it is actually a “giant” compared to its cousin, Brookesia nana (the Nano-Chameleon), which holds the current record for the world’s smallest reptile at just 22 mm long
The Brookesia nofy, formally described in September 2024, is the latest addition to Madagascar’s incredible roster of “miniature” chameleons. While many imagine chameleons as large, color-changing lizards, a “fully grown adult” of this species is essentially a living grain of rice with legs.
The “Adult” Specs
Don’t let the “fully grown” label fool you—this is one of the smallest vertebrates on Earth.
• Size: An adult male reaches a total length of approximately 33 mm (about 1.3 inches).
• The Snout-Vent Length (SVL): From the tip of its nose to its “bottom,” it measures only about 20.5 mm.
• Appearance: Like other leaf chameleons, it has cryptic coloration (shades of brown and beige) and specialized rows of bumps (tubercles) along its spine that allow it to disappear into the dead leaves of the forest floor.
Why It’s a “Dream” Discovery
The name “Nofy” is the Malagasy word for “dream”. Scientists named it this for two reasons:
1. The Location: It was discovered in the Ankanin’ny Nofy (“Nest of Dreams”) reserve on the east coast of Madagascar.
2. The Miracle: It was considered a “dream” that such a tiny creature could survive in the littoral forests—one of the most critically threatened habitats in the world, which has been decimated by deforestation and agriculture.
The “Tourist” Discovery (2024 Viral Origins)
In a classic 2024 twist, this species wasn’t initially found by a scientific expedition deep in the jungle. Instead, tourist photographs posted on Facebook and other social media sites alerted researchers to its existence. Tourists visiting the popular Ankanin’ny Nofy park had been snapping photos of the tiny lizards for years, labeling them simply as “mini chameleons,” before scientists realized they were looking at a distinct, undocumented species.
Where Does It Rank?
While Brookesia nofy is tiny, it is actually a “giant” compared to its cousin, Brookesia nana (the Nano-Chameleon), which holds the current record for the world’s smallest reptile at just 22 mm long
Comments (6)
More posts
