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Chameleons - Lizards

Panther ChameleonPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Greg Rothschild

     Chameleons are famous for their incredible ability to change color. It can happen for a variety of reasons, environmental conditions such as temperature and lighting, ...or even just their mood!

     Chameleon lizards consist of 2 genera and about 50 species. They are found in Europe, in Asia through much of India, and in all of Africa, especially Madagascar. They are all arboreal (living in trees) and are insectivores. Some are egglayers and others are livebearers.

See all the types of Chameleons here: Lizard Families, Various Chameleon Species

          They have highly ridged, laterally compressed bodies, large heads, and sticky long tongues which they can accurately project at insect prey. The opposing digits of their feet are fused in groups of two or three which they use, along with their prehensile tail to move from branch to branch. They move slowly and methodically.

     The chameleons eyes are cone shapes protruding from their head, with a small opening at the end for the pupil. The eyes move independently from each other and rotate in all directions.

     Today there are primarily four species of Chameleon commonly available in the United States, including the Panther Chameleon, Veiled Chameleon, Jackson's Chameleon, and Rampholeon Chameleon.

For more Information see:
Selecting and Caring for Your Lizard

Chameleons: Click on the small images below
for more information about each one.

Graceful Chameleon	Jackson's Chameleon
Chamaeleo gracilis	Chamaeleo jacksonii
Panther Chameleon	Veiled Chameleon
Furcifer pardalis	Chamaeleo calyptratus

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