• Did you know that Chameleon also means “Little Lion”.
• Chameleons have several kinds of pigment located with different cells in their skin. The pigment that is most responsible for most color changes is MELANIN. This is a dark substance contained in cells known as MELANOPHORES.
• Chameleons are “ectotherms” which means, animals whose temperatures are controlled from outside their bodies.
• Chameleons cannot camouflage themselves by matching their surroundings.. Instead, they protect themselves by moving very slowly, and swaying back and forth as they walk to mimic a leaf blowing in the wind.
• They often take place in response to changes in temperature, light, mood, and emotions. Changing color is also a way of communicating between other chameleons. If they are fearful or territorial, their emotions will evoke a particular color/pattern.
• When melanin particles are concentrated in one place inside the melenophores, the bright yellow and blue pigments in other skin cells can be seen. Then, a chameleon’s skin usually looks green. When the dark melanin spreads out within the melanophores, it covers up some of the other pigment cells. This causes the skin to appear black. Other movements can create stripes and spots of color.
• Chameleons do have taste buds but they have poor sense of smell.
• Chameleons react to heat and cold through their changing of color . Unless they can increase their body temperature by absorbing heat from the sun, they stay the same temperature as the air around them. Without warmth, they cannot hunt, move, or digest their food. In the morning they squeeze their sides together and puff out their chins, flattening their bodies to create more surface area. Dark colors absorb heat better, so the side of the chameleon facing the sun becomes almost black, while the other remains it usual color!
• chameleon eat the dead skin they out-grow, once it has been shed off.
• Chameleons have ears, which are 2 tiny holes (not visible to the eye), which are located near the eyes. They hear vibrations in the air, which help them find food and stay safe from their enemies. They are almost deaf, but can hear tones and feel vibrations. Vision is their best sense.
• Chameleons are built for climbing. Their hands and feet develop sharp nails (never clip them) to grip branches. Chameleons can walk fairly well on carpeted surfaces, but do not like any surface where they have lack of traction, like a hardwood floors.
• Chameleons have teeth to grasp food. They could use their teeth to help them crush and kill their food. They may chew or swallow their food whole. They can also use their teeth for tearing chunks off and then swallow. Some chameleons hold the dead prey in their mouth for several moments before swallowing it.
• A chameleon’s vision is referred to as “Binocular”. Even though their eyes operate independently from one another, they see like humans do. Many other reptiles with eyes on the sides of their heads can only see a separate image with each eye.

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