Brookesia Nasus

''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.. www.reptile-database.org

*''Brookesia antakarana –'' Antakarana Leaf Chameleon Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995
*''Brookesia bekolosy'' – Bekolosy Leaf Chameleon Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995
*''Brookesia betschi –'' Blank's Leaf Chameleon Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1974
*''Brookesia bonsi'' ''–'' Namoroka Leaf Chameleon Ramanantsoa, 1980
*''Brookesia brunoi'' ''–'' Anja Reserve Leaf Chameleon Crottini et al., 2012
*'' Brookesia brygooi'' Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995 – leaf chameleon or Brygoo's chameleon
*'' Brookesia confidens'' Glaw et al., 2012
*'' Brookesia decaryi'' Angel, 1939 – spiny leaf chameleon
*'' Brookesia dentata'' 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'' Glaw et al., 2012
*''Brookesia minima'' Boettger, 1893 – minute leaf chameleon
*''Brookesia nana'' Glaw et al., 2021 – Nano-chameleon
*''Brookesia nofy'' Rakotoarison et al., 2024
*'' Brookesia perarmata'' (Angel, 1933) – Antsingy leaf chameleon
*''Brookesia peyrierasi'' Brygoo & Domergue, 1974 – Peyrieras's leaf chameleon
*'' Brookesia ramanantsoai'' Brygoo & Domergue, 1975 – Ramanantsoa's minute leaf chameleon
*'' Brookesia stumpffi'' Boettger, 1894 – plated leaf chameleon
*''Brookesia superciliaris'' (Kuhl, 1820) – brown leaf chameleon
*'' Brookesia tedi'' Scherz, 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'' 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'': A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Brookesia''.

See also

* Island dwarfism

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, 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