Chameleon Facts
A chameleon is an Old World lizard of the family Chamaeleonidae that can shift its colors for camouflage and catches prey with a projectile tongue.
- Class
- Reptile
About the chameleon
As of June 2015, 200 chameleon species had been described, and they vary a lot in how much they can change color. Some only shift between lighter and darker browns, while others flash reds, yellows, greens and blues. Other traits set them apart: grasping feet, a gripping tail, flattened bodies, head casques, a swaying walk, plus brow and snout crests or horns in some species.
Each eye moves on its own, so the brain handles two separate pictures at once, but when hunting both eyes lock forward for depth perception. Chameleons hunt by sight during the day, mostly catching insects, and big species also take small vertebrates. Tree-dwelling species use the tail as an extra anchor, earning it the name fifth limb. Most live in Africa, with about half of all species found only in Madagascar.
Did you know?
- One chameleon species lives in southern Europe.
- A few chameleon species live across southern Asia, reaching as far east as India.
- Chameleons live in places ranging from rainforest to desert and from lowlands to highlands.
Questions about the chameleon
Where do chameleons live?
Mostly in Africa, with about half of species restricted to Madagascar, plus a single southern European species and a handful in southern Asia.
What do chameleons eat?
Mostly insects, though larger species can catch small vertebrates.
Sources
- Wikidata Q37686, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Chameleon, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.