Every day I have the privilege of working with people who know so much more than I ever will about our shared field. It is inspiring, sometimes frustrating, always humbling. Speaking of humble, do not EVER tell the guys I said they were brilliant and awesome because they would never let me forget it. Kthnx.
Today, I introduce you to another giant. In my new job, am working with species that are new to me, including this one. I bet she’s new to most of you, as well. Meet our female Plated Leaf Chameleon, Brookesia stumpffi. Click to enlarge.
I call her Gigantor.
This species is endemic to northwestern Madagascar and is typically found on the forest floor. Here’s another photo. This one’s my favorite. Click to enlarge.
Brookesia stumpfii and an American quarter, which outweighs her by about 2 grams. I should call her Big Mama.
She’s a big girl, right? And if we’re lucky, she’s carrying eggs. They lay 2-3 at a time, which are quite large given her diminutive size.
I love my job. Always something new.
What’s new in your world?
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Well, she’s enormously gorgeous!
All 3.8 grams of her!
I think this is B. superciliaris
It is entirely possible. We did have a superciliaris in that enclosure, too. What makes you ID this as B. superciliaris?
What a beautiful creature. Chameleons are so cool, moving their eyes separately and their different hands/feet/paws/end of leg thingies?? What do you call a reptile’s foot? I’ve never thought about it. I dated a herp guy for several years back in the day, mostly snakes tho. Cared for them and raised rats/mice. Definitely an experience. When I was a science teacher, I had a couple of snakes and a pair of leopard geckos in my classroom. The 7th grade boys always wanted to watch the snakes eat!
Leopard geckos remain one of my favorite lizards. They always look like they’re smiling!
We just call it a foot. I love how they eat. We have giant chameleons, and they’re pretty spectacular, but watching the little guys snag a cricket makes me giggle. They’re just so cute!
I have B. stumpffi in a tank directly behind my computer screen. They are quite different in appearance from the superciliaris. “Horns” less pronounced.
Cute as a bug’s ear – where are the ears, though?
They don’t have external ears.
How amazing! I see stick and leaf bugs from time to time around my neck of the woods, but I’ve never seen a leaf lizard!
They’re pretty incredible. And more camouflaged than you might think. They’re hard to spot in their exhibit.
Clever camouflage! I suddenly miss my wildlife class field trips. Walking some kilometers to find a turtle’s nest under the sand, guarding them, and watching eggs hatch. Catching bats, measuring their wings and stuff.
That chameleon looks like a really tiny dino. Animals are cool! 🙂
They really do look like tiny dinosaurs!
Amazing how it is even has speckles like decaying leaves… Do I see chin stubble on the second pic? Lizards/chameleons are just soo cool!!
Nature does a beautiful job of breaking up outlines so the animal can hide. Wait until I share pictures of the leaf-tailed geckos.
She’s kind of cute i a lizard sort of way. 🙂
Not puppy-cute, of course, but tiny-little-lizard cute.
What is your job???
I’m a zookeeper. Best job ever!
ohhh wow that’s awesome
I love her little pout!
They are total grump-a-potamus.
Well, hello there!
Love her! Thanks for sharing her with us. 😀