Chameleons Chameleons or chamaeleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015. These species come in a range of colors, and many species have the ability to change color.Chameleon
How many toes does a chameleon have?
A chameleon has two outer and three inner toes on its front feet, and two inner and three outer toes on its hind feet. Each toe features a sharp nail that digs into tree bark. Other animals—including perching birds and sloths—also evolved a similar anchoring strategy, though the five-toed anatomy of chameleons is unique.
What are the characteristics of a chameleon?
The tail and the rest of the body are almost of equal length. The skeleton of a chameleon is a bit different than the human skeleton. A chameleon has much more ribs than mammals do. They also have a bone in their tongue and have a huge hollow bone on their head. Their spine has long tips on the vertebrae.
Do chameleons have bones in their body?
The tail and the rest of the body are almost of equal length. The skeleton of a chameleon is a bit different than the human skeleton. A chameleon has much more ribs than mammals do. They also have a bone in their tongue and have a huge hollow bone on their head.
Do chameleons have tails?
Nearly all species of chameleon have prehensile tails, but they most often grip with the tail when they cannot use all four feet at once, such as when passing from one twig to another.
What are the structural adaptations of a chameleon?
Some of the adaptations that help a chameleon survive within its environment are camera-like eyes that can focus on different things, and defensive body maneuvers, like horns or flaps. They also have a long projectile tongue that can launch out of their mouth to catch prey from some distance.
What are the features of a chameleon?
Other characteristics of chameleons include zygodactylous feet (with toes fused into opposed bundles of two and three), acrodont dentition (with the teeth attached to the edge of the jaw), eyes that move independently, atrophied venom glands that produce harmless trace amounts of venom, and a long, slender projectile ...
What are the parts of a chameleon?
Parts of the ChameleonEyes. Chameleons can move their eyes independently, meaning they can view a panorama of their surroundings up to 180 degrees. ... Tongue. The chameleon's tongue can be up to 1.5 times longer than his body and when not fully extended, is coiled inside the neck. ... Skin. ... Feet. ... Tail.
What is a description of a chameleon?
chameleon • \kuh-MEEL-yun\ • noun. 1 : a small lizard whose skin changes color especially according to its surroundings 2 a : a person given to often expedient or facile change in ideas or character b : one that is subject to quick or frequent change especially in appearance.
What is unique about a chameleon?
Besides changing skin color, chameleons have another feature that no other animals have. Their eyes can move independently of each other, enabling them to look in two different directions at once.
What are 3 interesting facts about chameleon?
10 Interesting Facts About ChameleonsThe biggest mistake people make about chameleons. ... Chameleons have eyes in the backs of their heads. ... Chameleons like it hot. ... Chameleons come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. ... Chameleons have extremely powerful tongues.More items...•
Do chameleons have teeth?
The teeth of chameleons are acrodont (Fig. 6.78) and are not replaced. There are no teeth on the palate. The premaxilla is reduced in size and may bear up to 2 small teeth, whereas each maxilla and dentary typically bear between 15 and 22 teeth (Edmund, 1969).
How long is a chameleon's tongue?
On average, a chameleon's tongue is roughly twice the length of its body. In humans, that would be a tongue about 10 to 12 feet (about 3 to 4 meters) long.
Are chameleons deaf?
In fact, chameleons have the highest magnification (per size) of any vertebrate. Like snakes, chameleons do not have an outer or a middle ear, so there is neither an ear-opening nor an eardrum. However, chameleons are not deaf: they can detect sound frequencies in the range of 200–600 Hz.
What happens if a chameleon falls on you?
If a lizard or chameleon crawls up on any body part in night, it does not impact the person much. However, if any of these falls on body, it gives painfully negative results. If a lizard crawls up on the body from right side and crawls down from left, it does not considered to be inauspicious.
How does a chameleon camouflage?
Chameleons camouflage themselves in a variety of different ways but most famously by changing the colour and pattern of their skin. Most chameleons can change colour and they do this by expanding or contracting cells in their skin that contain different pigments.
Does a chameleon bite?
Summary. While a chameleon will bite you, it's not that painful and rarely breaks the skin, so there is no cause for concern, and it should not prevent you from getting one of these fantastic pets. In our experience, bites usually occur because inexperienced owners handle them too roughly.
How do I identify a chameleon?
Chameleons are distinguished by their zygodactylous feet, their prehensile tail, their laterally compressed bodies, their head casques, their projectile tongues, their swaying gait, and crests or horns on their brow and snout.
What are the distinctive features of a chameleon Class 10?
Chameleons are distinguished by their zygodactylous feet; their very extensive, highly modified, rapidly extrudable tongues; their swaying gait; and crests or horns on their brow and snout. Most species, the larger ones in particular, also have a prehensile tail.
What happens if a chameleon falls on you?
If a lizard or chameleon crawls up on any body part in night, it does not impact the person much. However, if any of these falls on body, it gives painfully negative results. If a lizard crawls up on the body from right side and crawls down from left, it does not considered to be inauspicious.
How does a chameleon camouflage?
Chameleons camouflage themselves in a variety of different ways but most famously by changing the colour and pattern of their skin. Most chameleons can change colour and they do this by expanding or contracting cells in their skin that contain different pigments.
What is the most distinctive feature of a chameleon?
Chameleons have the most distinctive eyes of any reptile. The upper and lower eyelids are joined, with only a pinhole large enough for the pupil to see through. Each eye can pivot and focus independently, allowing the chameleon to observe two different objects simultaneously. This gives them a full 360-degree arc of vision around their bodies. Prey is located using monocular depth perception, not stereopsis. Chameleons have very good eyesight for reptiles, letting them see small insects from a 5–10 meter distance. In fact, chameleons have the highest magnification (per size) of any vertebrate.
How many toes does a chameleon have?
On the front feet, the outer, lateral, group contains two toes, whereas the inner, medial, group contains three. On the rear feet, this arrangement is reversed, the medial group containing two toes, and the lateral group three. These specialized feet allow chameleons to grip tightly onto narrow or rough branches.
Why are chameleons declining?
Many species of chameleons are threatened by extinction. Declining chameleon numbers are due to habitat loss.
How do chameleons change their skin color?
Chameleons change colour by changing the space between the guanine crystals, which changes the wavelength of light reflected off the crystals which changes the colour of the skin.
How do chameleons' feet work?
On each foot, the five distinguished toes are grouped into two fascicles. The toes in each fascicle are bound into a flattened group of either two or three, giving each foot a tongs -like appearance. On the front feet, the outer, lateral, group contains two toes, whereas the inner, medial, group contains three. On the rear feet, this arrangement is reversed, the medial group contain ing two toes, and the lateral group three. These specialized feet allow chameleons to grip tightly onto narrow or rough branches. Furthermore, each toe is equipped with a sharp claw to afford a grip on surfaces such as bark when climbing. It is common to refer to the feet of chameleons as didactyl or zygodactyl, though neither term is fully satisfactory, both being used in describing different feet, such as the zygodactyl feet of parrots or didactyl feet of sloths or ostriches, none of which is significantly like chameleon feet. Although "zygodactyl" is reasonably descriptive of chameleon foot anatomy, their foot structure does not resemble that of parrots, to which the term was first applied. As for didactyly, chameleons visibly have five toes on each foot, not two.
Where do chameleons come from?
Chameleons are popular reptile pets mostly imported from African countries like Madagascar, Tanzania, and Togo. The most common in the trade are the Senegal chameleon ( Chamaeleo senegalensis ), veiled chameleon ( Chamaeleo calyptratus ), panther chameleon ( Furcifer pardalis ), and Jackson’s chameleon ( Trioceros jacksonii ). The U.S. has been the main importer of chameleons since the early 1980s accounting for 69% of African reptile exports. However, there have been large declines due to tougher regulations to protect species from being taken from the wild and due to many becoming invasive in places like Florida. They have remained popular though which may be due to the captive-breeding in the U.S. which has increased to the point that the U.S. can fulfill its own demand, and has now even become a major exporter as well. In the U.S. they are so popular, that despite Florida having six invasive chameleon species due to the pet trade, reptile hobbyists in these areas search for chameleons to keep as pets or to breed and sell them, with some selling for up to a thousand dollars.
Why is the Namaqua chameleon black?
Namaqua chameleon in threat display, Namib-Naukluft National Park, turned black and opened its mouth, when an attempt was made to move it off a busy road. Some chameleon species are able to change their skin colouration.
What are the characteristics of a chameleon?
Other characteristics of chameleons include zygodactylous feet (with toes fused into opposed bundles of two and three), acrodont dentition (with the teeth attached to the edge of the jaw), eyes that move independently, atrophied venom glands that produce harmless trace amounts of venom, and a long, slender projectile tongue.
How big is a chameleon?
Most chameleons, however, are 17–25 cm (7–10 inches) long. The body is laterally compressed, the tail is sometimes curled, and the bulged eyes move independently of one another.
What do African chameleons eat?
African chameleon preying on insects. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. See all videos for this article. Chameleon, (family Chamaeleonidae), any of a group of primarily arboreal (tree-dwelling) Old World lizards best known for their ability to change body colour. Other characteristics of chameleons include zygodactylous feet ...
What animal has prehensile tails?
…Solomon Islands skink ( Corucia ), true chameleons (Chamaeleonidae), arboreal vipers, boas, and pythons use prehensile tails—that is, tails that are capable of supporting most of the weight of the animal or are used habitually for grasping—for clinging to their aerial supports. Still, true chameleons rely mainly on the tonglike arrangement of…
How many species of chameleons are there?
Two additional genera ( Calumma and Furcifer) are recognized by some researchers. More than 150 species are currently known, and additional ones remain to be named.
How do chameleons capture prey?
The chameleon’s specialized vision and a specialized tongue -projection system permit the capture of insects and even birds from a distance. The chameleon’s eyes are very good at detecting and regulating light. The lens of a chameleon’s eye is capable of focusing extremely rapidly, and it can enlarge visual images much like a telephoto lens. Although many other lizards also use the tongue to capture prey, most can expel it only a short distance. In contrast, chameleons can launch their tongues at great speed to a distance of more than twice their body length, and they can strike and capture their prey with great accuracy. The hydrostatic force resulting from rapid contraction of a ringed accelerator muscle is used to project the tongue toward the chameleon’s prey; a sticky tongue tip adheres to the victim’s body; and strong retractor muscles pull the tongue and prey back into the mouth.
What determines the color of a chameleon?
Colour change is determined by such environmental factors as light and temperature as well as by emotions—such as fright and those associated with victory or defeat in battle with another chameleon. Many chameleons can assume a green, yellow, cream, or dark brown coloration.
How big is a chameleon?
long! On the opposite end of the scale, the largest species ( Furcifer oustaleti) can be up to 30 in. long!
What color are chameleons?
The scales of many species can change color to green, gray, yellow, red, purple, blue, and more.
What are some interesting facts about chameleons?
Interesting Facts About the Chameleon 1 Stereoscopic Eyes – Chameleons have incredibly complex and developed eyes, which can be moved independently from one another to view multiple objects at once. Their unique eyes give them incredibly precise depth perception, making hunting insects a breeze. 2 Projectile Prey Smacker – Depth perception is important for chameleons, because they have the unique feeding method of ballistic projection. Chameleons can shoot their long, sticky tongues up to two times their body length. They use this impressive ability to sneak up on and capture insect prey. They can strike prey with their tongues in as little as 0.07 seconds. 3 Built for Climbing – Unlike other lizards, chameleons are uniquely adapted to arboreal, or tree, living. Their feet have zygodactyl toes, which are tong-like to better grip branches. This toe arrangement is quite similar to parrots, which are equally adapted to living in trees. Unlike parrots, most chameleon species have prehensile tails. These tails can be moved at will, and used to stabilize the chameleon or hold on to branches. 4 Friends of all Shapes and Sizes – Chameleons come in a variety of different sizes. The smallest species of chameleon ( Brooksia micra) is a measly 0.6 in. long! On the opposite end of the scale, the largest species ( Furcifer oustaleti) can be up to 30 in. long!
How do chameleons reproduce?
Reproduction of the Chameleon. Most chameleon species lay eggs. Gestation will vary by species, but some time after mating, the female will climb to the ground and dig a hole to lay her eggs in. After laying the eggs, the female buries them and lets the ground do the incubation work.
How do chameleons communicate?
Animals that are angry or fearful will commonly display a red or orange coloration; when they are submissive, they will change color to brown or gra y. Females will also use color to display when they are ready to mate, choosing the most vibrant and dominant male to reproduce with.
What do chameleons eat?
Depending on the size of the animal, they will eat crickets, ants, snails, waxworms, butterflies, caterpillars, smaller lizards, wasps, praying mantises, and flies.
Where do chameleons live?
Chameleons can be found in tropical rainforests, mountain rainforests, savannas, and even deserts. The vast majority of chameleon species live in trees, but a few species live on the ground.
Where do chameleons live?
Chameleons mostly live in the rain forests and deserts of Africa. The color of their skin helps them blend in with their habitats. Chameleons that hang out in trees are usually green. Those that live in deserts are most often brown.
How do chameleons change their color?
So how exactly do chameleons change colors? The outer layer of their skin is see-through. Beneath that are layers of special cells filled with pigment—the substance that gives plants and animals (including you) color. To display a new color, the brain sends a message for these cells to get bigger or smaller. As this happens, pigments from different cells are released, and they mix with each other to create new skin tones. For instance, red and blue pigment may mix to make the chameleon look purple.
Is a tiger chameleon endangered?
Some species of chameleon (such as the tiger chameleon) are endangered, but others (like the Drakensberg dwarf chameleon) are not. No matter their differences, all chameleons have a prize pair of eyes. Their peepers can move in two different directions at once, giving the lizards a panoramic view of their surroundings.
Where do chameleons live?
Most of these lizards live in trees or in bushes. Only a few species live on the ground under piles of leaves.
Where does the word "chameleon" come from?
The word chameleon comes from the Greek words chamai which means on the earth and leon which means lion. So, the word means earth lion.
How do chameleons communicate?
Chameleons are animals that communicate with one another by using their body language. For instance, a chameleon trying to protect its territory from an intruder is likely to turn sideways. This makes the lizard look bigger and more threatening.
Why do chameleons shed?
A chameleon may shed its skin once a month or once every few months, depending on its species. Along with shedding its skin naturally, a chameleon may shed because it is feeling stressed or it is sick.
Why are chameleons endangered?
These animals can become endangered for many reasons such as loss of their habitat or pollution.
Why do chameleons change color?
A chameleon’s ability to change color to match its environment is its way of protecting itself when a predator is nearby. If this lizard is on a branch, its skin can turn a color that is very close to the color of the branch. Many predators may pass by without ever seeing the animal sitting quietly on the tree branch.
What color can a chameleon change?
Can change color to pink, red, green, yellow, turquoise, and other colors! The chameleon, scientific name Chamaeleonidae, is a species of lizard. There are over 160 species of these lizards spread across Madagascar, Spain, Africa, Asia, and Portugal. They have large eyes, a curled tail, and some species can change the color ...
What are the characteristics of a chameleon?
Broadly speaking, these reptiles are characterized by their small size, quadrupedal postures, extrudable tongues, and independently rotating eyes. Most species also have a prehensile tail and the ability to change color, which signals to other chameleons and camouflages them. Most chameleons are insectivores, but a few larger varieties supplement ...
What are some interesting facts about chameleons?
10 Facts About Chameleons. Bob Strauss is a science writer and the author of several books, including "The Big Book of What, How and Why" and "A Field Guide to the Dinosaurs of North America.". Among the most fascinating and unnerving animals on earth, chameleons are endowed with so many unique adaptations—independently rotating eyes, ...
Why do chameleons see light?
Presumably, their ultraviolet sense evolved to allow chameleons to better target their prey. It may also have something to do with the fact that chameleons become more active, social, and interested in breeding when exposed to UV rays , possibly because UV light stimulates the pineal glands in their tiny brains.
Why do chameleons have sticky tongues?
That's why all chameleons are equipped with long, sticky tongues—often two or three times the length of their bodies—which they forcefully eject from their mouths. Chameleons have two unique muscles to accomplish this task: the accelerator muscle, which launches the tongue at high speed, and the hypoglossus, which snaps it back with the prey attached to the end. Amazingly, a chameleon can launch its tongue at full force even in temperatures low enough to make other reptiles extremely sluggish.
What are the adaptations of chameleons?
Among the most fascinating and unnerving animals on earth, chameleons are endowed with so many unique adaptations—independently rotating eyes, shooting tongues, prehensile tails, and (last but not least) the ability to change their color—that they seem to have been dropped out of the sky from another planet.
Why do chameleons have a sense of ultraviolet light?
It may also have something to do with the fact that chameleons become more active, social, and interested in breeding when exposed to UV rays, possibly because UV light stimulates the pineal glands in their tiny brains. 07.
How do chameleons change color?
Most chameleons can change their color, and pattern, by manipulating the pigments and crystals of guanine (a type of amino acid) embedded in their skin. This trick comes in handy for hiding from predators (or curious humans), but most chameleons change color to signal to other chameleons.
What is a chameleon?
Chameleons are some of the world’s most fascinating creatures. They are adept hunters, using their distinctive tongues to capture prey from impressive distances — over twice their body length!
How big do chameleons get?
This species is also commonly known as the Malagasy Giant chameleon. These lizards can grow to be over 2 feet long , and are generally considered to be the largest chameleon species. They are often grey-colored, with some light banding along their bodies.
What is a 4 horned chameleon?
An elongated beard makes this species even more distinctive, as do the namesake horns. However, these lizards do not always show exactly 4 horns, having anywhere from 1 to 6 of them. The Four-Horned chameleon is commonly listed as being part of the genus Chamaeleo , which was accurate at one time. However, it is now considered a part of the genus Trioceros, which is recognized as a sub-genus of Chamaeleo.
How many species of chameleons are there?
Every chameleon species is capable of changing color to some extent, though some varieties do it more dramatically than others. There are more than 150 species of chameleons recognized today, with others still being researched and yet to be named.
How big can a veiled chameleon get?
Veiled chameleons, which are also known as Yemen chameleons, belong the genus Chamaeleo. They can get fairly large – up to 2 feet! This species gets its name from the crest atop its head. It is also known for having beautiful, vivid patterning. The Veiled chameleon is a popular pet for reptile enthusiasts and can also be found in the wild. In fact, the Veiled chameleon populates many areas throughout Africa. If you keep one as a pet, it’s best to make sure it has its own enclosure, as the Veiled chameleon has a tendency to be aggressive and territorial when confronted with other lizards.
How long do chameleons live?
This species is distinguished by having the shortest lifespan of any four-legged vertebrate. Once it hatches, this chameleon lives for about 4 to 5 months.
What do Robertson chameleons eat?
Unlike their forest-dwelling relatives, Robertsons eat the low-growing fynbos shrubs that are abundant in South Africa. There is some evidence suggesting that the Robertson may have split off from the forest-dwellers millions of years ago, adapting its diet as the forests fell back, giving way to dry fynbos.
How many toes does a chameleon have?
Chameleons’ feet have five toes each, and on the front feet, the outer group of toes is made up of two, and the inner grouping contains the other three of their toes. On their hind legs, the configuration is reversed, with three in the outer grouping and two toes in the inner group.
How do chameleons move?
Chameleons use slow movements to travel from tree branch to tree branch, moving in a way to mimic leaves blowing in a breeze. They travel by moving one limb at a time, edging themselves along. Like other limbed vertebrates, chameleons follow the same pattern of moving their left foreleg, right hind leg, and so on.
How Fast Are Chameleons?
Aside from walking with an interesting gait, they move fairly slowly, mostly walking, taking it one step at a time, but on the rare occasion, they have been known to run.
When Are Chameleons Most Active?
Chameleons are diurnal, like humans, meaning they are mainly active during the day time.
What do chameleons use their tail for?
Most chameleons have a prehensile tail, which they can use to wrap around branches as they climb .
Why should the lights on my chameleon be turned off?
At night these lights should be turned off to give the chameleon time to rest.
Why Do Chameleons Walk Funny?
If you often catch yourself gazing at your chameleon watching him move throughout his enclosure, you probably have noticed the funny way he walks.
What is the line in Karma Chameleon?
Their difficult romantic/professional relationship was also the inspiration for the line: "You're my lover, not my rival" in 'Karma Chameleon'.
What is the meaning behind 'Karma Chameleon'?
Boy George once explained about the song: "The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing.
Overview
Description
Chameleons vary greatly in size and body structure, with maximum total lengths varying from 15 mm (0.59 in) in male Brookesia micra (one of the world's smallest reptiles) to 68.5 cm (27.0 in) in the male Furcifer oustaleti. Many have head or facial ornamentation, such as nasal protrusions, or horn-like projections in the case of Trioceros jacksonii, or large crests on top of their heads, like Cha…
Etymology
The English word chameleon (/kəˈmiːliən/ kuh-MEEL-ee-un) is a simplified spelling of Latin chamaeleōn, a borrowing of the Greek χαμαιλέων (khamailéōn), a compound of χαμαί (khamaí) "on the ground" and λέων (léōn) "lion".
Classification
The family Chamaeleonidae was divided into two subfamilies, Brookesiinae and Chamaeleoninae, by Klaver and Böhme in 1986. Under this classification, Brookesiinae included the genera Brookesia and Rhampholeon, as well as the genera later split off from them (Palleon and Rieppeleon), while Chamaeleoninae included the genera Bradypodion, Calumma, Chamaeleo, Furcifer and Trioceros, as well as the genera later split off from them (Archaius, Nadzikambia and Kinyongia). Since that tim…
Change of color
Some chameleon species are able to change their skin coloration. Different chameleon species are able to vary their coloration and pattern through combinations of pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown, light blue, yellow, turquoise, and purple. Chameleon skin has a superficial layer which contains pigments, and under the layer are cells with very small (nanoscale) guanine cry…
Evolution
The oldest described chameleon is Anqingosaurus brevicephalus from the Middle Paleocene (about 58.7–61.7 mya) of China. Other chameleon fossils include Chamaeleo caroliquarti from the Lower Miocene (about 13–23 mya) of the Czech Republic and Germany, and Chamaeleo intermediate from the Upper Miocene (about 5–13 mya) of Kenya.
Distribution and habitat
Chameleons primarily live in the mainland of sub-Saharan Africa and on the island of Madagascar, although a few species live in northern Africa, southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece), the Middle East, southern India, Sri Lanka, and several smaller islands in the western Indian Ocean. There are introduced, feral populations of veiled and Jackson's chameleons in Hawaii, and isolated po…
Reproduction
Chameleons are mostly oviparous, with some being ovoviviparous.
The oviparous species lay eggs three to six weeks after copulation. The female will dig a hole—from 10–30 cm (4–12 in), deep depending on the species—and deposit her eggs. Clutch sizes vary greatly with species. Small Brookesia species may only lay two to four eggs, while large veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) have been known to lay clutches of 20–200 (veiled …
Description of The Chameleon
Interesting Facts About The Chameleon
- While color changing may be one of the most notable characteristics, chameleons are incredibly unique as a group. They are highly specialized creatures with some amazing adaptations. Learn how these traits help them survive below. 1. Stereoscopic Eyes– Chameleons have incredibly complex and developed eyes, which can be moved independently from one another to view mult…
Habitat of The Chameleon
- The many different species of chameleon have adapted to a large variety of ecosystems. Chameleons can be found in tropical rainforests, mountain rainforests, savannas, and even deserts. The vast majority of chameleon species live in trees, but a few species live on the ground.
Distribution of The Chameleon
- Chameleons of different species come from a number of different locations. Many different species can be found in Madagascar and Africa. Some species also live in Europe, Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East, and islands in the Indian Ocean.
Diet of The Chameleon
- Most chameleon species are insectivores, but the larger species will also prey on larger animals. Depending on the size of the animal, they will eat crickets, ants, snails, waxworms, butterflies, caterpillars, smaller lizards, wasps, praying mantises, and flies. They use their tongues as projectile missiles, which they shoot at insects from a distance.
Chameleon and Human Interaction
- Habitat destructionis the main threat to most chameleon species. As an animal that lives in trees, deforestation is devastating to chameleon populations. Chameleons are also commonly kept as pets, and are occasionally taken from the wild. They can be bred in captivity, so this threat is much less imminent than deforestation. Pet chameleons have also been introduced as invasive …
Chameleon Care
- Chameleons must have a ventilated terrarium with plenty of space for growth, and vegetation to hide in. Your pet will need a heat source, as they are cold blooded and cannot regulate their own temperature. The required temperature will vary based on the species, and should be measured with a thermometer. You will also need to monitor the humidity, and to regulate the humidity in t…
Behavior of The Chameleon
- Chameleons communicate with one another using their skin pigmentation. Animals that are angry or fearful will commonly display a red or orange coloration; when they are submissive, they will change color to brown or gray. Females will also use color to display when they are ready to mate, choosing the most vibrant and dominant male to reproduce with.
Reproduction of The Chameleon
- Most chameleon species lay eggs. Gestation will vary by species, but some time after mating, the female will climb to the ground and dig a hole to lay her eggs in. After laying the eggs, the female buries them and lets the ground do the incubation work. Baby chameleons will begin hunting shortly after they hatch. They are fully self sufficient, and do not need to be taught to capture prey.