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Miniature chameleon: World's tiniest reptile discovered in Madagascar
Examiner.com ^ | February 17, 2012 | Nannette Richford

Posted on 02/17/2012 3:11:10 PM PST by presidio9

What do Bigfoot, Sasquash and miniature chameleons have in common? Until recently, nearly anyone would tell you they didn’t exist. That has changed, at least for the dwarf chameleon. Brookesia micra, the world’s tiniest reptile has been discovered on the island of Nosy Hara, northern Madagascar. This tiny creature reaches less than one- inch in length at maturity. Researches discovered these miniature chameleons sleeping in bushes four inches above the ground level.

"They mostly live in the leaf litter in the day ... But at night they climb up and then you can spot them." Says lead investigator Frank Glaw.

Glaw further explains that these chameleons likely developed island dwarfism as a result of isolation as they adapted to a restricted habitat.

Mainer’s react with surprise and fascination to this discovery.

“It really makes you wonder what may be hiding right beneath our nose,” says cryptozoological enthusiast, Janice Peterson, of northern Maine . "We humans are an egotistical lot who scoff at the thought of undiscovered species. There are creatures out there – like the elusive Bigfoot or prehistoric sea creatures - waiting to be discovered. This is just one more case where science verifies the existence of previously unknown creatures.”

The German lead research team explains that Brookesia micra’s habitat is restricted to a very small islet and may represent extreme island dwarfism.

(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: chameleons; cryptozoology; littlecritters; notgecko; tinypackages
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Miniature chameleon discovered in Madagascar. Credit: PloS One/ Creative Commons Attribution License

(insert Mitt Romney joke here)

Pretty cool to think that God managed to pack all the necessary organs and systems of a complex adult vertabrate into such a tiny package.

1 posted on 02/17/2012 3:11:12 PM PST by presidio9
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To: FReepers
The funds raised in these FReepathons go to pay our current quarter expenses. But we're also going to try to replace some of our older servers and failing equipment this year so we're going to add a little extra to our FReepathon goals. John is estimating ten to fifteen thousand to do this and I'd like to get it all in place and working before the election cycle is fully heated up, so we'll try to bring in a little extra now, if we can, and the rest next quarter.

Jim Robinson



Click to Donate!

2 posted on 02/17/2012 3:11:48 PM PST by onyx (SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC, DONATE MONTHLY. If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, let me know.)
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To: SunkenCiv; nickcarraway; Slings and Arrows

ping


3 posted on 02/17/2012 3:14:56 PM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam Does.)
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To: presidio9

..reminds me of those tiny frogs


4 posted on 02/17/2012 3:15:11 PM PST by Doogle (((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated)))
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To: presidio9
..reminds me of those tiny frogs
5 posted on 02/17/2012 3:16:26 PM PST by Doogle (((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated)))
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To: Doogle

whoops


6 posted on 02/17/2012 3:17:04 PM PST by Doogle (((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated)))
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To: presidio9

Wow, they are tiny!
I’m curious to see what their babies look like after they are born.
Any pictures available?


7 posted on 02/17/2012 3:17:54 PM PST by rawhide
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To: presidio9

Man what a cool little creature.


8 posted on 02/17/2012 3:19:45 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: presidio9
I'll put my tiny turtle up against that soft body any day.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
9 posted on 02/17/2012 3:20:50 PM PST by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: pcottraux

ping


10 posted on 02/17/2012 3:20:56 PM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam Does.)
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To: presidio9

It was funny to watch my pro-abortion Facebook friends marvel and wonder over this lizard. They apparently didn’t see the mental disconnect that requires.


11 posted on 02/17/2012 3:25:12 PM PST by mvpel (Michael Pelletier)
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To: presidio9

Interesting! However, I must protest dragging Bigfoot into this discussion. He is the one ultimate truth left on this earth.


12 posted on 02/17/2012 3:26:21 PM PST by AEMILIUS PAULUS (It is a shame that when these people give a riot)
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To: Doogle

From what I understand, the frogs hatch as hoppers (do not go through the tadpole stage) and get larger (though not much larger). The cameleon is an adult. Scientists think the smallest vertabrate will ultimately be some species of fish.

Tiny Chameleon can’t change color, BTW.


13 posted on 02/17/2012 3:26:37 PM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam Does.)
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To: mvpel
It was funny to watch my pro-abortion Facebook friends marvel and wonder over this lizard. They apparently didn’t see the mental disconnect that requires.

The difference being momma and daddy chameleon PLANNED this guy, while baby humans can be "punishment" in the Obamasphere.

14 posted on 02/17/2012 3:29:51 PM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam Does.)
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To: presidio9

Can’t change color you say? Let me step on him one time.


15 posted on 02/17/2012 3:32:04 PM PST by goseminoles
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To: cripplecreek

16 posted on 02/17/2012 3:33:14 PM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam Does.)
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To: goseminoles

The much larger Romney Chameleon changes from red to blue, depending on what state he’s in.


17 posted on 02/17/2012 3:34:50 PM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam Does.)
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To: presidio9

“IT’S COMIN’ RIGHT FOR US!”


18 posted on 02/17/2012 3:35:50 PM PST by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: presidio9

You’re an awesome photo-shopper.


19 posted on 02/17/2012 3:36:23 PM PST by 353FMG
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To: presidio9

Lol!!


20 posted on 02/17/2012 3:36:42 PM PST by goseminoles
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