Brookesia nofy: A Tiny Chameleon with a Contested Discovery

Brookesia nofy is among Madagascar's most diminutive chameleons, a leaf‑litter specialist whose very name—nofy, meaning "dream" in Malagasy—captures the delicate, almost unreal quality of its existence. Endemic to the humid forests of northwestern Madagascar, this species inhabits the microhabitat of leaf litter and moss, where its cryptic coloration allows it to vanish seamlessly into the forest floor.

The story of its discovery is as intriguing as the animal itself. Patrick Andrimihaja was the first to bring Brookesia nofy to wider attention, announcing its existence months before the type specimen was formally collected. His early observations were shared publicly on Facebook and on www.chameleons.info, introducing the species to the herpetological community.

Plans to describe the species soon sparked debate with the owners of the private reserve, who expressed their wish that the chameleon be named after their property, Palmarium. Yet during the process of securing the necessary permits, the type specimen was collected and the description published.

Despite Patrick's pioneering effort, when the formal description appeared, his role as the original discoverer was not acknowledged. His contribution was omitted from the record—a regrettable gap between field discovery and academic recognition.