The World's Smallest Chameleon Rivals Even The World's Smallest Frog (PICTURE)

LOOK: The World's Smallest Chameleon
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Meet the world's smallest chameleon - or as the scientists who discovered him on Madasgascar would call him - Brookesia micra.

Found on a small island off the coast of Madagascar proper, the fingertip-sized reptile is thought to be one of a long line of miniature creatures that have evolved on and around the African island.

"Their size suggests that chameleons might have evolved in Madagascar from small and inconspicuous ancestors, quite unlike the larger and more colourful chameleons most familiar to us today," says Ted Townsend, of San Diego State University.

The sad fact is, this little 'un and others like him may not be around for long. “These tiny reptiles are threatened with extinction,” says Miguel Vences from Braunschweig Technical University, Germany.

Just 16mm long end-to-end, the little fellow rivals the world's smallest frog in the tinyness stakes, with the Paedophryne amauensis measuring up at an eye-straining 7.7mm.

To compare and constrast the two, here's a pic of the froglet in question to remind you just how teeny he is.

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As for which is cuter, well that's definitely one for the comments section. Our vote? The chameleon. No, the frog. Wait, the chameleon. Hmm... this is more difficult than we thought.

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