Brookesia confidens

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Brookesia confidens
Male Brookesia confidens from Ankarana.png
Male Brookesia confidens
Female Brookesia confidens from Ankarana.png
Female Brookesia confidens
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Brookesia
Species:
B. confidens
Binomial name
Brookesia confidens
Glaw, Köhler, Townsend, & Vences, 2012
Brookesia confidens distribution.png

Brookesia confidens, also known as the leaf chameleon, is one of the world's smallest species of chameleons. It is endemic to the Ankarana Nature Reserve (Ankarana National Park) in Madagascar. It was first described in 2012 by F. Glaw, J. Koehler, T.M. Townsend and M. Vences. [2]

Contents

Distribution and habitat

Found in northern Madagascar, B. confidens is one of the world's smallest chameleons. It was discovered in the Ankarana National Nature Reserve. [3] It was first described in 2012 by Glaw, Koehler, Townsend and Vences. [4] The nature reserve where B. confidens can be found on is well-protected. Little habitat destruction is currently occurring that could impact the species. [5]

Description

Brookesia confidens is smaller than half of a human finger, and is roughly the size of a wedding ring. [6] The snout–vent length of males is between 18.3 and 20.1 mm (0.72 and 0.79 in), and the total length is between 29.2 and 34.2 mm (1.15 and 1.35 in). The females are slightly larger, and have a snout-vent length between 20.6 and 22.6 mm (0.81 and 0.89 in), and a full length between 32.5 and 36.2 mm (1.28 and 1.43 in). [5] It is the sister taxon of Brookesia tuberculata (Mount d'Ambre leaf chameleon). [5] It is just larger than Brookesia micra . [7] It looks identical to Brookesia desperata, Brookesia micra and Brookesia tristis . [8]

Taxonomy

Brookesia confidens is commonly known as the leaf chameleon. [4] [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Brookesia</i> Genus of lizards

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. 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.

<i>Brookesia peyrierasi</i> Species of lizard

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 André Peyriéras.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount d'Ambre leaf chameleon</span> Species of reptile

The Mount d'Ambre leaf chameleon is a diminutive chameleon from far northern Madagascar.

<i>Brookesia minima</i> Species of reptile

Brookesia minima,, is a diminutive chameleon that was regarded as the smallest lizard of the Chamaeleonidae until a smaller species, Brookesia nana, was described in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown leaf chameleon</span> Species of lizard

The brown leaf chameleon or stump-tailed chameleon 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 need of revision.

<i>Brookesia micra</i> Species of lizard

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, until the 2021 discovery of the even smaller B. nana. Adult B. micra can grow up to 29 mm (1.1 in) in length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spiny leaf chameleon</span> Species of lizard

Brookesia decaryi is a species of chameleon, which is endemic to Madagascar, and is ranked as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It was initially described in 1939 by Fernand Angel. B. decaryi is commonly known as Decary's leaf chameleon, spiny leaf chameleon, or Decary's pygmy chameleon.

<i>Brookesia betschi</i> Species of lizard

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naturelle leaf chameleon</span> Species of lizard

The naturelle leaf chameleon is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. It was rated as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature on its Red List of Threatened Species. The species was described by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo, Charles Pierre Blanc, and Charles Domergue in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petter's chameleon</span> Species of lizard

The Petter's chameleon is a species of chameleon, which is endemic to northern Madagascar. Furcifer petteri was initially described as the subspecies Chamaeleo willsii petteri by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo and Charles Domergue in 1966, but later transferred to the genus Furcifer and given full species status by Frank Glaw and Miguel Vences in 1994.

<i>Brookesia bonsi</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia bonsi is a species of chameleons, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar, and was initially described by Guy A. Ramanantsoa in 1980. The International Union for Conservation of Nature ranked this species as Critically Endangered.

<i>Brookesia brygooi</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia brygooi, commonly known as Brygoo's chameleon, Brygoo's pygmy chameleon, and the leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chameleonidae. The species, which is endemic to Madagascar, was first described in 1995 by Raxworthy and Nussbaum and named in compliment to French herpetologist Édouard-Raoul Brygoo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toothed leaf chameleon</span> Species of lizard

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 al. in 2009. It is affected by the collection of charcoal, forest fires, and the grazing of cattle. Its holotype provides from Maevatanana (Suberbieville).

<i>Brookesia exarmata</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia exarmata, also known as the dwarf chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to Madagascar. It was first described by Schimmenti and Jesu in 1996, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classed it as an endangered species of animal.

<i>Brookesia griveaudi</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia griveaudi, commonly known as the Marojejy leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to northeastern Madagascar. It was described as a species new to science by Brygoo, Blanc, and Domergue in 1974. It is listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

<i>Brookesia lineata</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia lineata, also commonly known as the lined leaf chameleon, is a species of chameleon that is endemic to Madagascar. It was first described by Raxworthy and Nussbaum in 1995. The International Union for Conservation of Nature ranked this as an endangered species.

<i>Brookesia therezieni</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia therezieni, also known as the Perinet leaf chameleon, is a species of lizards in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to eastern Madagascar. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classed the species as Least Concern. B. therezieni was initially described as a species new to science by Édouard-Raoul Brygoo and Charles Antoine Domergue in 1970.

<i>Brookesia valerieae</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia valerieae is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. It was first described by Raxworthy in 1991. The IUCN have classed this species as endangered, and it is affected by slash-and-burn agriculture. It is not a protected species.

<i>Brookesia desperata</i> Species of lizard

Brookesia desperata is a species of chameleons. It is endemic to Foret d'Ambre Special Reserve in north Madagascar, and is a critically endangered species due to the decline of its habitat. This decline is attributed to clearance of forest for crops, charcoal production, timber extraction, small-scale quarrying and cattle grazing. It was named desperata to provoke thought regarding the desperately threatened habitat of Madagascar's micro-endemic species. They can be found roosting above ground on small branches or leaves 5–100 cm above ground at night. B. desperata was described in 2012 by a research team led by Dr. Frank Glaw from the Zoologische Staatssammlung München.

<i>Brookesia nana</i> Extremely small chameleon

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 does not change colors.

References

  1. Jenkins, R.K.B.; Glaw, F. (2014). "Brookesia confidens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T42686345A42686404. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T42686345A42686404.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. "Brookesia confidens | EOLspecies". Eolspecies.lifedesks.org. Archived from the original on 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  3. Glaw, Frank; Köhler, Jörn; Townsend, Ted M.; Vences, Miguel (2012). "Rivaling the World's Smallest Reptiles: Discovery of Miniaturized and Microendemic New Species of Leaf Chameleons (Brookesia) from Northern Madagascar". PLOS ONE. 7 (2): e31314. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031314 . PMC   3279364 . PMID   22348069.
  4. 1 2 "Brookesia confidens". Uniprot.org. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  5. 1 2 3 "Amphibia-Reptilia.Com". Amphibia-Reptilia.Com. 2012-02-16. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  6. "Leaf chameleon photo - Brookesia confidens - G133175". ARKive. Archived from the original on 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  7. "New Species of Madagascar Dwarf Chameleon Detailed". Reptilechannel.com. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  8. Sheridan, Michael (September 15, 2012). "Leaf chameleons found in Madagascar are among the world's smallest reptiles". New York Daily News . Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  9. "Leaf chameleon videos, photos and facts - Brookesia confidens". ARKive. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2012-11-17.