Chameleons

1.   Almost half of the world’s chameleon species live on the island of Madagascar.

2.   Chameleons are unique creatures in their own right. Known for their ability to change color, they can be seen wearing a variety of colors, including brown, green, blue, yellow, red, black or white. 

3.   With color, chameleons can communicate with others, expressing attitudes such as their willingness to mate.

4.   Contrary to popular belief, chameleons cannot display limitless colors and do not change colors in a camouflage response to their surroundings.

5.   Chameleon skin changes in response to temperature, light, and mood.

6.   They are the only lizards with zygodactyle feet, or pincers.
These grasping feet are ideal for tree climbing.

7.   Also distinctive are the independently moveable eyes,
which allow chameleons the ability
to survey the world with nearly
360-degree vision.

8.   The fossil record provides very little evidence to date the evolution of chameleons, although they are likely to be an ancient group.

9.   Chameleons vary greatly in size
and body structure, from less than 10cm (Brookesia) species, to
60cm (Calumma parsonii).

10.  The main things chameleon
species do have in common is their foot structure, their eyes, their lack of ears, and their tongue.