Brookesia

Brookesia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Chamaeleonidae
Genus:	Brookesia Gray, 1864

Brookesia is a genus of chameleons found in Madagascar, that range from small to very small in size, and are known collectively as Leaf Chameleons (though this name also commonly is used for species in the genera Rieppeleon and Rhampholeon). It includes the species considered to be the world's smallest chameleons, and are also among the smallest reptiles. They 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.

Most Brookesia are on CITES Appendix II, the only exception being B. perarmata on Appendix I (a species also listed as vulnerable 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

There are currently 26 recognized species in the genus.

• Mt. Amber Pygmy Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia ambreensis
• Brookesia antakarana
• Brookesia bekolosy
• Blanc's Leaf Chameleon. Brookesia betschi
• Brookesia bonsi
• Brygoo's Chameleon, Brookesia brygooi
• Spiny Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia decaryi
• Brookesia dentata
• Northern Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia ebenaui
• Brookesia exarmata
• Brookesia griveaudi
• Naturelle Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia karchei
• Fito Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia lambertoni
• Brookesia lineata
• Brookesia lolontany
• Minute Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia minima
• Elongate Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia nasus
  • Brookesia nasus nasus
  • Brookesia nasus pauliani
• Antsingy Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia perarmata
• Peyrieras' Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia peyrierasi
• Plated Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia stumpffi
• Brown Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia superciliaris
• Perinet Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia therezieni
• Domergue's Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia thieli
• Brookesia tuberculata
• Iaraka River Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia vadoni
• Raxworthy's Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia valerieae

See also

• Island dwarfism

References

• Genus Brookesia at The Reptile Database
• 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, 3d edition. Frosch Verlag. ISBN 9783929449037