Science
Related: About this forumMiniature Chameleons Discovered—Fit on Match Tip
Match-tip tiny, Brookesia micra (juvenile pictured) is the smallest of four new chameleon species found on the African island country of Madagascar. With an average adult length of just over an inch (2.9 centimeters) from snout to tail, B. micra is among the tiniest reptiles in the world.
Scientists think the diminutive new chameleon species might represent extreme cases of island dwarfism, whereby organisms shrink in size due to limited resources on islands.
"The extreme miniaturization of these dwarf reptiles might be accompanied by numerous specializations of the body plan, and this constitutes a promising field for future research," study leader Frank Glaw of Germany's Zoological State Collection said in a statement.
The new chameleon species study was published this week in the journal PLoS ONE.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/02/pictures/120215-smallest-chameleons-new-species-madagascar-science/
almost seems like it would be too small to have enough cells to make organs, lol, if that makes any sense
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)how utterly cute is that.
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)But it makes some sense. In my visits to Hawaii I have taken note of the tiny ants and mosquitos and wondered about their size. Most other animals seem normal in size.
tridim
(45,358 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)~*~*~SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~*~*~
Skinner
(63,645 posts)quakerboy
(13,923 posts)would be really handy if you had a fruit fly problem.
OnyxCollie
(9,958 posts)Gaggle? Clutch? Murder? Pod?
Beaverhausen
(24,475 posts)These little guys are so amazing.
tclambert
(11,087 posts)It's as big as a Komodo dragon (pictured above). Also found: Gigantic fingernail.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)OldEurope
(1,273 posts)The camel goes through the eye of a needle. So the rich can enter the kingdom of God.
O, wait, it´s not a camel.
Phew.
Kyad06
(127 posts)Much easier to care for then the Uramastis and Bearded dragons my son was kind enough to stop taking care of. My wife is now in charge LOL.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)and is that small?
I am amazed they found them at all.
And what do you feed something that small? You must need tiny little ants or something.
tclambert
(11,087 posts)which are very hard for them to catch, explaining why there are so few of them.
stevedeshazer
(21,653 posts)Which, actually, is the problem.
FailureToCommunicate
(14,031 posts)It will hurt his feelings!
XanaDUer
(12,939 posts)Not really I wouldn't know how to care for it but it is adorable
DRoseDARs
(6,810 posts)Girls like swarms of lizards, right?
suffragette
(12,232 posts)Truly wonderful and adorable.
Beacool
(30,254 posts)He is so small, but perfectly formed. Look at the tiny claws.
lob1
(3,820 posts)would they blend in and look like you?
OnyxCollie
(9,958 posts)Runs on fruit flies.