Chameleons are one of the most well - known lizards on the planet , even among masses not familiar with lizards . After all , their very name go to a Scripture that means a person who can switch their looks or personality to fit a situation .
18 Fun Chameleon Facts
These riveting reptiles are interesting for more than just their color - exchange ability .
1. There are Many Types of Chameleons Around the World
There are over150 species of chameleonsinternationally . They are known as " old world " lounge lizard because they are incur in the African , Asiatic , and European continents . Most can be found throughout Africa and the Middle East , with the island res publica of Madagascar abode to more than 50 percent of the world ’s chamaeleon . A few metal money are native to India , Pakistan , Sri Lanka , and lands in the Indian Ocean realm . The coarse orMediterranean chameleoncan be found in southerly Europe , including Cypress , Crete , Portugal , Spain , and around the Mediterranean , as well as portion of southwesterly Asia , including Iraq , Lebanon , Saudi Arabia , and Syria .
2. Only a Few Species of Chameleons are Pets
Although there ’s a wide variety of chamaeleon metal money , the absolute majority of chameleons in thepet tradeare from three species . Thepanther chamaeleon , veiled chameleon , andJackson ’s chameleonare the species most normally keep as ducky .
3. The American Chameleon Is Not a Chameleon
Although it ’s look up to as the American chamaeleon , the anoleis not in fact a member of the chamaeleon kin . This lounge lizard is related to the iguana , rather . It gets its name from the fact that it can alter color like chameleons .
4. Chameleons Have Existed a Long Time
chameleon are believedto have existedsince the Paleocene era ( 56 to 66 million years ago ) . However , some scientists trust they may have existed as far back as the Cretaceous full stop ( 100 million years ago ) .
5. Chameleons Are Arboreal
Chameleons make their homes in trees and bush . Their homes range from rainforest to mountain and grassland to deserts . Though most live in tree , a few are known to live nearer to the background in marvellous grass formations and in atomic reactor of leave of absence and limb swing from trees and in gumption dune .
6. Chameleons Are “Ground Lions”
Thename , " Chameleon,“comes from ancient Greek and Latin and imply " ground lion " or " Leo on the ground . " Since chameleons populate in trees , it is thought that perhaps the name refers to their flowery mane - shaped peak around the heads of some species .
7. Chameleons Have Special Tails
Although not all chameleon possess this trait , many haveprehensile fanny . These white tie and tails curl around branches and allow them to keep their balance and rise tree diagram . Unlike other lizards , a chameleon ’s tail will not grow back if break away off .
8. Chameleons Have Zygodactylous Toes
Zygodactylous toesare fused into opposite sets of two and three . Their front feet have two toes fused together on the outside and three on the interior , while their back foot have two coalesce on the interior and three on the outside . The toes function the way a human pollex would , allowing them to better grip outgrowth as they move about their arboresque home ground .
9. Chameleons Can Change Their Colors
Chameleons can vary their color to conform to their environment , though this ability differ across mintage . While it ’s commonly thought that they match their skin color to match their surroundings , they can only do this in certain context and they can not match complex colour or patterns such as those found on print clothing . Each species has their own unique chain of mountains of colors that they can cycle through . Chameleons transfer their colors for a number of reason , including :
The colors in a chamaeleon ’s tegument are controlled by an amino group acid call G , which are organise as crystals . When a chameleon ’s reactions lead to the crystals moving asunder or closer to each other , light wavelengths ricochet off the crystals chair to the color changes we see .
10. Male and Female Chameleons Are Different
Male chameleon tend to have horns , spikes and crown around their heads , whereas the female do not . The males also tend to show off more brightly color patterns , which ordinarily come during mating time , to shanghai the female . Most best-loved chameleon lean to be male person because they have more decoration on their bodies .
11. Chameleons Have Almost 360 Degree Vision
Each of a chamaeleon ’s bulging center can move in two unlike directions independent of the other . This allows them to see in an almost 360 range around them . It also admit them to keep their attention on two unlike matter simultaneously . Their mountain is so ripe that they can see insects as far aside as 20 infantry . In addition to their amazing physical range of their visual sense , they can also see in the ultraviolet light spectrum .
12. Chameleons Use Their Tongues to Hunt
chamaeleon have very prospicient tongues that they can squirt cursorily from their jaw to catch target . Their tongues move so fast that they can run into an insect in 0.07 seconds , and their glossa ’s speedup has been appraise at approximately41 g ’s of military unit . scientist have found that thesmaller the species , the quicker the swiftness and unassailable the military unit of their tongue ’s acceleration . The distance of the lingua vary by species , but can be up to twice as long as their bodies . The tongues have a sticky , bulgy end that create a " suction cupful " issue on dirt ball that get catch on it . The chamaeleon can then pull the trapped insect inside their jaw .
13. Chameleons Have Tiny Ears
chameleon have tiny holes on the sides of their head that are their " auricle . " The ear hole are so small that they are unsufferable to see to the naked eye . As a final result , they do not hear very well and trust on smell vibration and sure flavour to perceive their environs , along with their excellent seeing .
14. Chameleons Come in Many Sizes
The great chameleon specie is the Parson ’s Chamaeleon , which can reach a niggling over 2 feet in duration . One of the smallest chameleon species is the tinyBrookesia micra , orleaf Chamaeleon , which can grow up to a half in .
15. Chameleons Are Ectothermic
Ectotherms are creatures whose body temperature is controlled by the smother environs . They require to stir up their body from outside sources , such as a high temperature lamp if keep in a terrarium or the sunshine in their innate environment . If an ectotherm becomes too cold , they become torpid , will intercept hunt and can not digest food .
16. Chameleons Are Mostly Omnivorous
Thechameleon ’s dietconsists of louse such as cricket , locusts , mantids , stick bugs , snail , worms , and grasshoppers . bombastic Chamaeleon species have also been bed to eat other lizards and small birds . chamaeleon can also eat yield , Chuck Berry , folio , and plant matter . A few chameleon mintage are only carnivorous , or insectivores , while others are only herbivore .
17. Chameleons May Dislike Handling
chamaeleon are not a dangerous lounge lizard , but they can hiss and bite if they find threatened . Some chameleonsdislike being handledby humans and can receive it very stressful . On the other hand , there are some pet chameleon that are less bother by human touch . A chameleon that is hissing and retreating in its batting cage should not be pluck up , and while their bites are not poisonous , they can be quite painful and are best stave off .
18. Chameleons Are a Long-Term Commitment
Chameleons can survive on modal 9 to 10 years when sustain in incarceration . It ’s not known for certain how long they live in the wild , but it ’s trust to be about 2 to 3 years . However , the Madagascan chamaeleon has the world’sshortest lifespanfor a vertebrate , subsist justabout three monthsin total .
Chameleons Are Unique and Interesting Pet Lizards
If you ’re considering contract a chamaeleon , it pays to teach more about them . They arenot the easiest lizardsto keep because of their temperature and humidness want , and they are not always the easy to handle . They can make excellent pet lizard with the correct surround and a suited home ground designed to keep them healthy and stress - innocent .
