NATURAL HISTORY · CATALOGUE RECORD
Brookesia nana Glaw, Köhler, Hawlitschek, Ratsoavina, Rakotoarison, Scherz & Vences, 2021
Source-backed taxonomic record
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
Brookesia nana, also known as the nano-chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to montane rainforests in northern Madagascar (North of 16°S). Unlike some chameleons, Brookesia nana does not change colors, which is an example of paedomorphism. The majority of northern Brookesia species are restricted to rainforest.
The species was discovered by herpetologist Frank Glaw and other German researchers in 2021 in the rainforest on the Sorata massif in northern Madagascar. Described in 2021, it could represent the world's smallest reptile. Brookesia nana is not arboreal, as it tends to inhabit the forest floor. It is likely that the species is endangered due to deforestation in Madagascar. Miniaturism is believed to evolve from habitat loss.
Wikipedia contributors, Brookesia nana; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T14:21:05.163761+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Brookesia nana Glaw, Köhler, Hawlitschek, Ratsoavina, Rakotoarison, Scherz & Vences, 2021
- Name authority
- Glaw, Köhler, Hawlitschek, Ratsoavina, Rakotoarison, Scherz & Vences, 2021
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Family
- Chamaeleonidae
- Genus
- Brookesia
- Extinction status
- Not supplied by this source
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- megaclassTetrapoda
- classReptilia Laurenti, 1768
- orderSquamata Oppel, 1811
- suborderIguania
- familyChamaeleonidae
- genusBrookesia
- speciesBrookesia nana Glaw, Köhler, Hawlitschek, Ratsoavina, Rakotoarison, Scherz & Vences, 2021
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Brookesia. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Brookesia betschi Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1974 | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Fito Leaf ChameleonBrookesia lambertoni Brygoo & Domergue, 1970 | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Brookesia ramanantsoai Brygoo & Domergue, 1975 | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Brookesia tedi Scherz, Köhler, Rakotoarison, Glaw & Vences, 2019 | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Brookesia nofy Rakotoarison, Hasiniaina, Glaw & Vences, 2024 | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Brookesia antakarana Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995 | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Brookesia bonsi Ramanantsoa, 1980 | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Spiny Leaf ChameleonBrookesia decaryi Angel, 1939 | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Toothed Leaf ChameleonBrookesia dentata Mocquard, 1900 | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Brookesia desperata Glaw, Köhler, Townsend & Vences, 2012 | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Northem Leaf ChameleonBrookesia ebenaui (Boettger, 1880) | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Brookesia karchei Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1970 | ChamaeleonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
Documented distribution
Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Brookesia&species=nana Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:8KPMS. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.