Brookesia

Brookesia
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Chamaeleonidae
Subfamily:	Brookesiinae
Genus:	Brookesia Gray, 1864
Type species
Chamaeleo superciliaris Kuhl, 1820
Diversity
32 species

Brookesia is a genus of chameleons, lizards in the family Chamaeleonidae. The genus is endemic to Madagascar. Member species range from small to very small in size, and are known collectively as leaf chameleons (though this common name is also used for species in the genera Rieppeleon and Rhampholeon). Brookesia includes species considered to be the world's smallest chameleons, and are also among the smallest reptiles. Members of the genus Brookesia are largely brown, and most are essentially terrestrial.

A significant percentage of the species in the genus were only identified to science within the last three decades, and a number of species that still have not received a scientific name are known to exist. Most inhabit very small ranges in areas that are difficult to access, and due to their small size and secretive nature, they have been relatively poorly studied compared to their larger relatives.

Brookesia are abundant in low-disturbance riparian zones^[1] and low-disturbance rainforests. Brookesia are scarce in high-disturbance forests^[2] recovering from burning. As of 2024, Brookesia nofy is the most recently described new species in the subfamily Brookesiinae.^[3] A different species, B. nana, is the first chameleon known not to change colors.^{[citation needed]}