Chameleons: Chamaeleonidae
Common Chameleon (chamaeleo Chamaeleon): Species Accounts
Physical characteristics: The colors of the common chameleon vary widely; they include green, yellow, gray, and brown, with many stripes and spots.
Geographic range: Common chameleons inhabit Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa.
Habitat: Common chameleons are found in many different areas, among them, semidesert scrubland, coastal scrubland, crop plantations, and forested areas as high as 8,500 feet (2,591 meters).
The colors of the common chameleon vary widely; they include green, yellow, gray, and brown, with many stripes and spots.
Diet: Common chameleons eat insects, young birds, and small reptiles.
Behavior and reproduction: Common chameleons living in areas with very cold winters will lie dormant, slowing down or entirely stopping most of their activities until the weather warms up. At the onset of warm weather, mating begins. Females carry their young for two months and then produce about sixty eggs. The young hatch in six to eleven months.
Common chameleons and people: Common chameleons do not interact with people in the wild. They are sometimes killed crossing roadways. They are also captured for the illegal pet trade, but few survive. Habitat destruction is another threat.
Conservation status: The IUCN lists the common chameleon as Vulnerable. Only in Greece are they strictly protected. ∎
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Books:
Bartlett, Richard D., and Patricia Bartlett. Jackson's and Veiled Chameleons. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, 2001.
Darling, Kathy, and Tara Darling. Chameleons: On Location. New York: HarperCollins, 1997.
Mara, W. P. Chameleons: Exotic Lizards. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 1996.
Miller, Jake. The Chameleon: Lizard Library. New York: PowerKids Press, 2003.
Schmidt, W., K. Tamm, and E. Wallikewitz. Chameleons: Basic Domestic Reptile and Amphibian Library. Broomall, PA: Chelsea House Publishers, 1998.
Stefoff, Rebecca. Chameleon. New York: Benchmark Books, 1996.
Uchiyama, Ryu. Reptiles and Amphibians. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1999.
Periodicals:
Cooper, Sharon Katz. "Chameleons and Other Quick-Change Artists." National Geographic Explorer (October 2002): 4–7.
"Chameleons' Emotional Signals." National Geographic (August 1993): Earth Almanac.
"Panther Chameleons." Ranger Rick (February 1998): 5–9.
Risley, T. "Chameleon Profile: Brookesia and Rampholeon. Chameleon Information Network 31 (Spring 1999): 21–23.
Risley, T. "The Fate of Wild-Caught Chameleons Exported for the Pet Trade." Chameleon Information Network 42 (Winter 2001): 15–18.
Web sites:
Fry, Michael. "Introduction." Chameleon Information Network. http://www.animalarkshelter.org/cin/ (accessed on July 29, 2004).
Heying, Heather. "Family Chamaeleonidae." Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Chamaeleonidae.html (accessed on July 28, 2004).
Mayell, Hillary. "Evolutionary Oddities: Duck Sex Organs, Lizard Tongue." National Geographic News. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/10/1023_corkscrewduck.html (accessed on July 29, 2004).
Raxworthy, Christopher J. "A Truly Bizarre Lizard." Madagascar—A World Apart. http://www.pbs.org/edens/madagascar/creature3.htm (accessed on July 29, 2004).
"Veiled Chameleon." Reptiles & Amphibians: Smithsonian National Zoological Park. http://national http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Veiledchameleon.cfm (accessed on July 29, 2004).
Additional topics
- Chameleons: Chamaeleonidae - Armored Chameleon (brookesia Perarmata): Species Accounts
- Other Free Encyclopedias
Animal Life ResourceDinosaurs, Snakes, and Other ReptilesChameleons: Chamaeleonidae - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Jackson's Chameleon (chamaeleo Jacksonii): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CHAMELEONS AND PEOPLE, CONSERVATION STATUS