Imagine a chameleon so small that it can fit on the tip of your finger. That’s exactly what researchers discovered in Madagascar, an island nation located off the east coast of Africa. The island is home to some of Earth’s most unique creatures, most of which can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
Researchers found two of the tiny lizards, a male and a female, in a rainforest in Madagascar. The new critters are called nano-chameleons. The male is slightly smaller than the female, measuring less than an inch from nose to tail. Scientists believe that may make it the smallest reptile in the world. The itty-bitty creature is smaller than any of the other more than 11,000 known reptile species.
Scientists also believe that the nano-chameleons should be listed as critically endangered. That's because their rainforest habitat is in danger due to deforestation, or the cutting down and burning of trees. But there has been some good news for the nano-chameleons—the small area where they live was recently protected.