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New contender for 'world's smallest reptile' found in Madagascar
Researcher Dr Mark D Scherz called the discovery "a spectacular case of extreme miniturisation."

Nano chameleon measures just 22mm from top to tail.

Scientists have discovered a new subspecies of chameleon that they believe could be the smallest reptile in the world.

With a body size of just 13.5mm, the brookesia nana – or 'nano chameleon' – was found by a joint team of German and Malagasy scientists on an expedition in the North of Madagascar.

Their study was recently published in the open access journal Scientific Reports.

The team was only able to find two individuals, a male and a female. Measuring 22mm from top to tail, the male is the smallest known male of the roughly 11,500 known non-avian reptiles, according to the Bavarian State collection of Zoology in Munich.

The female is larger at 19mm body length and 29mm total length.

Dr Mark D Scherz, one of the researchers involved in the discovery, called it "a spectacular case of extreme miniaturisation.”

Dr Scherz added that, as the miniscule new chameleon lives in the mountains of mainland Madagascar, it “violates the pattern of the smallest species being found on small islands. That suggests that something else is allowing/causing these chameleons to miniaturise.”

Despite only two individuals being located the researchers expect that that brookesia nana has a very limited distribution range, similar to most species of dwarf chameleons.

“Unfortunately, the habitat of the nano chameleon is under heavy pressure from deforestation,” said Oliver Hawlitschek from the Center of Natural History in Hamburg, “but the area has recently been designated as a protected area, and hopefully that will enable this tiny new chameleon to survive.”

Image (c) Frank Glaw (SNSB/ZSM).

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.