Brookesia minima – The Minute Leaf Chameleon

Brookesia minima, described by Boettger in 1893, is a dwarf chameleon species confined to Nosy Be and Nosy Komba off Madagascar's northwest coast, with records also from the Manongarivo Reserve on the mainland. Known by common names such as the Madagascar dwarf chameleon, minute leaf chameleon, and Nosy Be pygmy leaf chameleon, it was long considered the smallest lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae until the discovery of Brookesia nana in 2021.

Adults measure only a few centimeters: males about 2.8 cm and females up to 3.4 cm, with hatchlings emerging at just over 1 cm — barely larger than a grain of rice. Despite its size, B. minima retains the full suite of chameleon traits: independently rotating eyes, a prehensile tail, and cryptic coloration that allows it to blend into leaf litter.

The species inhabits humid forest floors, where its miniature size and camouflage make it nearly invisible among fallen leaves. Conservation assessments list Brookesia minima as Endangered, due to its restricted range and ongoing habitat loss.