Taxonomic notes: Section empty

This leaf chameleon is endemic to Madagascar where it is known to occur only on the small off-shore island of Nosy Hara in the north-east (Glaw et al. 2012).

There is no quantitative information on population abundance or trends for this species.  Observations during the day indicate that it occurs in relatively uniform abundance in the two sites on Nosy Hara from where it is known to occur (Glaw et al. 2012). It has not been found in other areas surveyed on the island, suggesting that populations are very localised. 

This species is restricted to the small island of Nosy Hara where it inhabits litter vegetation in dry forest on eroded limestone outcrops (Glaw et al. 2012). It may have a preference for specific microhabitats, because it is very patchy in occurrence, but where it is found, they are reasonably abundant. It is considered a forest specialist, not able to tolerate altered landscapes.

There are no records of this species in trade or any other forms of use. All species in the genus Brookesia are on Appendix II of CITES and would be subject to export regulations.

Although there is some local use of forest products this does not appear to threaten the chameleon (D. Andriafidison pers. comm.). Any increased activities on, or around the island, by local people and tourists, would increase the levels of habitat disturbance and the risk of fire.

• 7.1.1 Increase in fire frequency/intensity
• 5.3.1 Intentional use: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest]

The known range of the species is within the Nosy Hara Marine National Park which currently has apparently limited terrestrial habitat destruction. Furthermore, this area might benefit from natural protection by the tsingy limestone formations which are difficult to access. Future surveys should also clarify if B. micra is also present on other island of the Nosy Hara Archipelago or on the adjacent mainland.

• 1.1 Site/area protection

Listed as Near Threatened based on the species nearly qualifying for listing as Vulnerable under D2. The species is confined to a single site, Nosy Hara, with a plausible future potential threat that could impact the species. If the threat became operational, the species would qualify for listing as Critically Endangered as it occurs at a single location (where the threat would be from fire) and there would be a continuing decline in the quality and area of habitat (qualifying the species for the criteria B1ab(iii)).

• Glaw F., Köhler J., Townsend T.M. and Vences, M. 2012. Rivaling the world’s smallest reptiles: discovery of miniaturized and microendemic new species of leaf chameleons (Brookesia) from Northern Madagascar. PLoS ONE 7(2): e31314. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031314.
• IUCN. 2014. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 13 November 2014).