Page 36 - Present Day Wildlife_Float

The Chamaeleon is a small old world lizard. There is around 200 species, spread through-
out several genera in the family Chamaeleonidae. Many are found across Africa and Madagascar
with a lesser amount found in southern Europe, southern Asia and as far east as India and Sri
Lanka. Although popular as pets in many states of America, they are not native to that country and
are often confused with the large lizards, Anoles, members of the family Dactyloidae, which are
native to the Americas. The average size of the Chamaeleon is difficult to assess but a rough guide
is the male, Malagasy giant, believed to be the largest at around 69 cm long, and the known small-
est male, Nano-chameleon, around 22 mm long.

There are two types of Chamaeleon’s, the ar-
boreal that are usually coloured various shades of
green to match the trees they reside in, and the
terrestrial Chamaeleon, who’s colour reflects the
ground or sand they reside, usually a light to dark
grey or brown. The arboreal Chameleons have a
long prehensile tail they use like an extra limb, us-
ing it to anchor themselves to branches or steady
themselves while moving around the trees. Other
noticeable differences among species are on their
heads or faces, such as nasal protrusions, or horn-
like projections similar to those on the head of
Jackson's chameleon. The Veiled chameleon, on
the other hand, has large crests on top of their
heads. Males are always more heavily adorned in
this way than the females.

The colour changing ability of the Chamae-
leon’s has three main functions. One to control its
temperature, two to communicate a certain emo-
tional state and the third as camouflage. On a hot summers day the Cha-
maeleon will display bright reflective colours that help keep it cool, while,
on a cold winters day will coat itself in dark heat absorbing colours. A high-
ly emotional state, like anger, produces bright colours, usually a shade of
red, while a very submissive state produces a darker or lighter colour, possi-
bly grey. Males at mating time display a rainbow of bright colours, knowing
the female will only accept the one with the brightest colours. Camouflage
or blending into the background to avoid detection by predators has long
been a known feature of the Chamaeleon’s colour changing abilities and is
practised by most species. However, it’s now known that Chamaeleon’s can-
not imitate every colour in nature, suggesting that this camouflage may not, in some cases, be as
effective as once thought. Some species, however, like Smith's dwarf, approach camouflage differ-
ently; they use the predator’s own vision and what it sees to dictate what colours it must change.
This often negates the need to blend into the background completely. (See New scientist inserts on
opposite page)

Chameleons are primarily insectivores. However, they live in a variety of habitats, from de-
serts, rainforests, scrub savannas, grassland, and even up mountains. This has resulted in certain
differences in diet. Some larger chameleons, for instance, supplement their diet of insects with
small birds and lizards while others may eat plants and vegetation. Regardless of their dietary pref-
erence, most Chameleons are equipped and hunt in a similar fashion; their main hunting device
being an extendible 30cm long tongue, tipped with a sticky sucker, and eyes that move inde-
pendently giving them full 360-degree all round vision. Chameleons don’t need speed to hunt, be-
cause, thanks to their long tongue, they don’t have to be closed to their prey; subsequently they are
purposeful but slow movers. When hunting, they simply position themselves and wait. As an insect
flies within range, the Chameleon releases its
missile-like tongue. It slams into and sticks
to its victim, and instantly recoils back into
the crushing jaws of the Chameleon. It’s fast,
taking less than a second and the Chameleon
never moves, just sits, waiting for its next
victim. (See: Lizard)