Chameleons: Chamaeleonidae - Behavior And Reproduction

eggs species males cold

Chameleons are cold-blooded animals, meaning that their body temperature varies with the weather. After resting during the night, they warm up in the daytime by basking, or resting, in the sun. If they get too warm, they lower their body temperature by resting in the shade. All their activities take place during daylight hours.

Most chameleons prefer to live alone. Males are very territorial, or protective of their living areas. Males and females tolerate each other only briefly, during the mating season. When males with bony head horns fight over territory, one may lower its head and attempt to ram the other with its horns. Usually no harm is done, unless an eye or lung is damaged.

In the mating season, males try to attract females by bobbing their heads, inflating their throats, puffing up their bodies, and displaying their brightest colors. A female may accept or reject the courting male. If she rejects him, she might run away or she might face the male and hiss at him with an open mouth. She might even attack and bite him. These bites can kill.

Most chameleon species lay eggs. Eggs are placed in tunnels or pits in the ground or under rocks or leaves. This keeps them cool and moist. After laying their eggs, females cover the area with dirt to hide it from predators. Depending on the species, young chameleons hatch one to eighteen months later. They are independent at birth and must find their own food and shelter. A few chameleon species give birth to live young, rather than lay eggs. These species often live in areas where the weather is very cold in winter and where eggs placed directly on the ground might not hatch because of the cold.

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User Comments

about 1 year ago

nakia ross

what is the lenghth of chameleons pregnacy and how many offsprings do it have

about 2 years ago

Ed Wethli

I'm interested to find out more about the territorial behaviour of chameleons - e.r., how do they mark out their territories?

over 4 years ago

Can people keep chameleons as pets or do they usually die from not having natures features?

12 months ago

how do chameleons poop?

about 1 year ago

William

Lmaoo (;

Im doingg a projett aboutt thiss thing.

&& Theree is bareley any factss aboutt whatt they eat . It onlyyt showss what you shouldd feed them...

&&&Aboutt theirr Habitat. Loll

Dosee anyonee knoww wheree icann get thisss infoo at ??

HEEEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPP !

about 1 year ago

William

almost 2 years ago

Charles

I would like to know if there are different species of chameleons including their size

over 4 years ago

I want to know if chameleons are poisones to our labrador dog and to my kids ?

about 1 month ago

Érica Moura

I have twenty eggs of chamaeleo calyptratus but they are in very bad condition (the colour is bad and they have some mold). I hope someone help me to found a problem of my eggs. They are in a box with vermiculite with 24ºC-29ºC and a humidity is 70%. This box are inside in another boxe with water and this two boxes are on top of a resistance.

10 months ago

karina busato

um pretty descriptive but more information would be recommended in this case but either than that, good information. Cherio im off to work!

-London,England

about 1 year ago

over 1 year ago

If reptiles lay eggs and chameleons are reptiles then all chameleons lay eggs.Now when you say that" A few chameleon species give birth to live young, rather than lay eggs.Then i fail to understand are trying to say that eggs hatch with in the body of a chameleon (Vivaporous)?

over 4 years ago

Why do chameleons live alone? Why do they usually live in tropical places?

over 4 years ago

What is the mating season of chameleons? I may be doing a science fair project on this, so, when is the mating season?

11 months ago

these are some interesting facts about this reptile...but, it dosnt say it is a reptile,if its a(n) omnivore, carnivore or herbivore! but i am in the sixth grade ,and i am doing a research project on animals..so if you need extra information some GREATT:)) websites are::http://a-z-animals.com/animals,http://www.the-lizard-lounge.com/is great for reptiles, as in the chameleon!!!ChEcK-iT-oUt!! byyyy.! :)

about 1 year ago

over 1 year ago

do chameleons that give birth to live young ones have to climb to a tall tree and then drop down dead {burst open} for the young to come out?

12 months ago

blah ans awesome

about 1 year ago

William

almost 2 years ago

thanks for the information on chameleon.

i would like to know more about the species that give birth to young one, do they take care of the youngones? what happen to the mother after birth.

thanks

8 months ago

jamie

you are gay gay gay gay !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9 months ago

Hi i had an argument with a friend on how the process of internal fertilization takes place in a chamelion, any insight into the whole process will be highly appreciated.

about 1 year ago

William

about 1 year ago

William