As objects in society become smaller, the creatures discovered are becoming smaller as well, exemplified by two scientists who discovered the world's smallest lizard in the Caribbean.

S. Blair Hedges, evolutionary biologist at Penn State and Richard Thomas, biologist at the University at Puerto Rico, discovered the Sphaerodactylus ariasae, which is the smallest species of reptiles, birds and mammals.

The ariasae, whose nickname is the Jaragua lizard, is 16 millimeters long from its snout to the base of its tail, which makes identifying it a difficult task.

"They're so small, when they move they'll be gone in a flash," Thomas said.

The Jaragua is tied for the smallest lizard species with the Sphaerodactylus parthenopion, which was discovered by Thomas in 1965 in the British Virgin Islands.

"From all the data, they really come out the same," Thomas said.

They found the lizards in Jaragua National Park on the small island of Beata, which is part of the Dominican Republic. Their journey to the island was difficult, Thomas said.

"The trip was very rough," Thomas said. "At times it was a little scary."

Hedges and Thomas named the new species after Yvonne Arias, who is the president of Groupa Jaragua, which is an organization that works to protect the ecology of Jaragua National Park.

"Yvonne has been active in this organization," Hedges said. "She interacts a lot with the locals."

The lizards are not very selective when it comes to its diet.

"They pretty much feed on whatever is in their size range," Thomas said.

The Jaraguas maximize the use of their environment.

They are found under leaves that are dry on the top but have much needed moisture on the bottom.

Because the surface area is so small, any loss of moisture will cause them to shrivel up and possibly die.

The lizards receive camouflage from the leaves as well.

"The leaves are really dark brown like the lizard," Hedges said. "It protects them from predators."

The Caribbean contains many creatures unknown to humans.

"We've always found 10 or more undescribed species of frogs and snakes," Thomas said.

Hedges said deforestation is a severe problem in the Caribbean as well as the world.

"Much of the world's rainforests have disappeared," he said. "Millions of species have become extinct."

Thomas visited Beata 30 years ago and said it has undergone much change in that time.

"It was virtually a wilderness," he said. "Now there are a few little villages. This is happening all over the West Indies."

Along with the villages, many of the inhabitants are practicing subsistence farming.

Animals can adjust to new environments, but it takes a long time, Hedges said.

"Adaptation requires thousands, sometimes millions of years," he added.

If the destruction of the lizards' habitat continues, they will not survive, Hedges said.

Various species of different animals are endangered.

"We don't have enough money to save everything," Hedges said.

Hedges said more investigation must be done on the Jaragua.

"We don't know much about the ecology and behavior of this species," Hedges said. "People have to go out and study them."

Besides studying the lizards, the two scientists feel there are more animals to be examined.

"We have ample belief there are more undiscovered species," Thomas said.