地球上最小爬行. y9 Z2 \! S! J5 |5 K' K/ g3 C" B7 e
迷你Meleontvb now,tvbnow,bttvb+ g/ L$ w' J$ r8 A
科學家發現一種細至可於指甲邊爬行的爬行動物「迷你Meleon」。英國《每日郵報》報道，於馬達加斯加（Madagascar）一個小島上發現的迷你Meleon，比世界最小的變色龍（chameleon）還小，約3厘米大的牠比蒼蠅還小，可於指甲邊上爬行。科學家同時發現名為「Brookesia micra」的4個新品種。公仔箱論壇+ m$ S P) e. p' E
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San Diego State大學教授Ted Townsend已就有關品種進行基因測試，估計迷你Meleon由馬達加斯加島上一種細小、不起眼的變色龍進化而成，有別於今日為人所熟悉的彩色變色龍。該等新品種只能於幾平方英哩的地方發現。 ; a- E! c) |/ C/ q5.39.217.768 B) g. K+ P) w) g9 V
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Discovered: The mini-meleon that is one of the smallest reptiles on the planet 4 i& j$ ~, H+ I' btvb now,tvbnow,bttvbBy Wil Longbottom ' T4 P' M* Q1 F6 r- e; T5.39.217.768 \) [3 d0 n \9 X3 m$ x6 J
His species is renowned for its ability to blend in, but this tiny critter is even better than most as the world's smallest chameleon.' k7 R& d' H5 {- m3 d
Balanced on the tip of a scientist's fingernail in Madagascar, the-three centimetre reptile is no bigger than the flies that form his average-sized cousin's lunch.公仔箱論壇3 z% K' S p7 e
: P- Y, p; r" L7 t3 Q2 m, ltvb now,tvbnow,bttvbScientists discovered four new species - called Brookesia micra - on a small islet just off the main island. z. e! m/ R% E8 ]& R6 J 9 X& ^. F1 B" N0 Q, ^0 W5.39.217.76 ( r4 K( @/ k7 k c5 stvb now,tvbnow,bttvbTiny: This chameleon is smaller than a finger nail and was discovered on an islet off Madagascar% l- \( w" L5 E. ^! p, W+ O
5 I, {5 B. j* c: G% t+ h# ^- btvb now,tvbnow,bttvbThis particular chameleon is now thought to be one of the smallest reptiles on the planet. , M, e: O$ v" I; w) g1 _! f5.39.217.76Ted Townsend, of San Diego State University, carried out genetic testing on the new species.2 ]: G; l# V' {. d
! Q! M! ]- l2 Z5 v0 dHe said: '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.'3 m* q L- }6 _: V3 ]% P( F
5.39.217.769 K! ~7 F3 U. d! v" y 9 M+ x: l: o5 Q7 ?' t2 h, v1 mtvb now,tvbnow,bttvbA real match: The three-centimetre chameleon is thought to be one of the smallest reptiles on the planet! T0 c7 ~) d$ i8 Q" Q+ h- p& ~% w
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Hard to spot: Scientists believe chameleons may have evolved on Madagascar , }& {9 O7 @$ v公仔箱論壇tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb( ]( k* L" P3 f+ w5 n9 D& \
The new additions to the chameleon species are only found in an area just a few square miles in size. 1 P7 L) C( h; [# Ttvb now,tvbnow,bttvb + w( J4 w2 t) F6 p, U+ M* HExperts believe they may be especially sensitive to habitat destruction.
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