Facts
Chameleon is a type of lizard.
There are more than 200 species of chameleons.
Most of the species can change their colors.
Smallest chameleon is Brookesia micra, which reaches 0.6 inches in length.
Biggest chameleon is Furcifer oustaleti, which reaches 30 inches in length.
Chamaeleonidae is the scientific name of the chameleon.
Chameleons spend most of their lives living in trees.
Chameleons eat locusts, grasshoppers, crickets, mantis and stick insects.
Chameleons inhabit sub-Saharan Africa and the island of Madagascar.
They are found in North Africa, Southern Europe, parts of the Middle East, India and Sri Lanka.
Over half of all known species of chameleon live on the island of Madagasgar.
The shortest living chameleon has a lifespan of 5 months
Most chameleons live on average of around 5 or 6 years.
The longest living chameleon has a life span of 12 years
The main reason they change color is to reflect their mood.
Chameleons change color using nano salt crystals in their skin cells to refract light.
The chameleon’s eyes have no upper or lower eyelid.
Chameleons have one big eyelid per eye with a cone-like shape.
The most common predators of chameleons are birds, snakes, and monkeys.
The chameleon is a protected species and it’s illegal to capture them in the wild.
The veiled chameleon is the most common chameleon pet.
Chameleons are solitary animals
Chameleons cannot produce their own body heat.
a chameleon cannot regrow its tail once it is lost.
A chameleon’s tongue is twice the length of its body.
the chameleon’s tongue can go as fast as 95 kilometers per hour.
Chameleon means “earth lion.”
Chameleons shed their skin throughout their life
Chameleons don’t have a good sense of hearing.
Chameleon deposits eggs in the nests in the ground.
Number of eggs depends on the species and it ranges from 6 to 24.
Some species carry the eggs in the womb until they hatch.
Chameleons do not have ear opening or outer ears.
They can detect sounds in the frequency range from 200 to 600 Hz.
Chameleons have very good eyesight and are able to detect insects that are up to 10m away
They are also able to detect ultraviolet light.
Chameleons have close to 360 degrees vision
Baby chameleons are independent from birth.
Chameleons get angry when they look in the mirror
It is illegal to have a pet chameleon in Australia
