Reptile · GBIF taxon 2449345
Brown Leaf Chameleon
Brookesia superciliarisAlso known as Stump-tailed Chameleon
Brown leaf chameleons spend their lives foraging through the damp forest floor of Madagascar, relying on an extraordinary dead-leaf disguise complete with ragged dorsal ridges and dull mottled coloration. When startled, they frequently feign death, tucking in their tiny limbs and rolling onto their side to blend seamlessly among fallen foliage. Females deposit small clutches of miniature eggs beneath the moist leaf mold, leaving the independent hatchlings to hunt tiny invertebrates from day one.
CamouflagedForest FloorEndemic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Springtails
- Small spiders
- Isopods
Predators
- Rainforest birds
- Forest snakes
- Tenrecs
ThreatsDeforestation from slash-and-burn agriculture, timber harvesting, and wild collection for the pet trade
HabitatsHumid primary and secondary rainforest leaf litter
Life span2–4 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyChamaeleonidae
- GenusBrookesia
- SpeciesBrookesia superciliaris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Walk slowly along established rainforest trails and look for small twitches among brown leaf litter.
- Handling: Do not handle these tiny lizards, as their fragile skeletons and delicate skin are easily damaged.
- Lighting: Use diffuse natural light or gentle headlamp illumination rather than strong direct camera flashes.
Neighbor Frank Vassen / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative Frank Vassen / CC BY 2.0 · CC BY 2.0
Close Relative (c) Lennart Hudel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lennart Hudel · cc-by
Same Family (c) McBeul, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Emerald Kingdom
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