Scientists say they have discovered what could be the smallest reptile the world. It is a kind chameleon and is the size a sunflower seed. Chameleons are usually 35-40cm long. Scientists found two the tiny lizards - a male and a female - the mountains northern Madagascar. They are just 22mm long nose to tail. The length the male's body is 13.5mm. At first, the scientists thought the tiny reptiles were juveniles, but later realised they were fully-grown adults. The scientists called the miniature creatures nano-chameleons. The scientists tried to find more the nano-chameleons, but "despite great effort" could not find any others.
Madagascar is home to two-thirds the world's chameleon species. Scientists believe they may have originated there. However, the chameleon's survival is threatened deforestation the island. One of the scientists said the nano-chameleons are lucky to survive. He said: "The nano-chameleon's habitat has unfortunately been subject to deforestation, but the area was placed protection recently, so the species will survive." A study published the journal "Nature Climate Change" stated that nearly all Madagascar's eastern rainforest could disappear 2070 if deforestation and climate change does not slow down. This would put many the island's unique species danger.
