Chameleons of Madagascar —

	Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis)
	More chameleon photos
	How do chameleons change colors? Chameleons have two layers of specialized cells that lie just beneath the lizard's transparent outer skin. Wikipedia explains the structure as follows: "The cells in the upper layer, which are called chromatophores, contain yellow and red pigments. Below these chromatophores is a another cell layer. Cells of this layer are called guanophores and they contain the colorless crystalline substance guanin. These guanophores reflect among others the blue part of incident light. If the upper layer of chromatophores is yellow, the reflected light becomes green (blue plus yellow). A layer of dark melanin containing melanophores is situated even deeper under these blue and white light-reflecting guanophores. These melanophores influence the lightness of the reflected light. All these different pigment cells can relocate their pigments, thereby influencing the color of light which is reflected."

Madagascar is home to about half the world's 150 or so species of chameleons, including both subfamilies, typical chameleons (Chamaeleoninae) and dwarf chameleons (Brookesiinae).

Chameleons are small to mid-size reptiles that are famous for their ability to dramatically change colors (how?). Contrary to popular belief, a chameleon typically does not change colors to match its surroundings. Instead, color is usually used to convey emotions, defend territories, and communicate with mates.

Other easily noted characteristics of chameleons include bulging eyes that move independently of one another, feet fixed in a grasping position, and the existence of horns or crests on the heads of many species. Additionally, arboreal species have prehensile tails used for grasping objects when climbing and moving. Finally, some species have long extensile tongues for catching insects or small vertebrates at a distance sometimes greater than the length of the chameleon.

Chameleons are diurnal, solitary, and often aggressive towards members of their own species (marked by rapid color change and aggressive posturing). They are opportunistic hunters that wait for prey to pass within range of their long tongues. Chameleons have a bizarre way of moving in which they slowly rock back and forth between each step taken, often in time with the movement of nearby leaves being blown by the wind. Most chameleons lay eggs.

Other notes:

The name "Chameleon" is derived from the Greek words chamai (on the ground, on the earth) and leon (lion) so their name means "earth lion."

In some areas Malagasy fear chameleons. They are also the subject of some well-known local proverbs including “Manaova toy ny dian-tana jerena ny aloha, todihina ny afara,” which translates to "Like the chameleon, one eye on the future, one eye on the past"; "Ratsy karaha Kandrondro," meaning "ugly as a chameleon"; "Mahatsidia vokon' Anjava kely izy fa mafoaka," a warning to walk carefully so as not to step on a Brookesia, which would bring great misfortune.

List of selected chameleons in Madagascar:

Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma andringitraensis
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma boettgeri		Boettger's Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma brevicornis		Short-horned Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma capuroni
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma cucullata		Hooded Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma fallax
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma furcifer		Fork-nosed Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma gallus
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma gastrotaenia
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma glawi
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma globifer
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma guibei
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma guillaumeti
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma hilleniusi
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma linota
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma malthe
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma marojezensis
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma nasuta
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma oshaughnessyi		O'Shaughnessy's Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma parsonii		Parson's Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma peyrierasi
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma tigris
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma tsaratananensis
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma vatosoa
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Calumma Calumma vencesi
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia ambreensis
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia antakarana
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia bekolosy
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia betschi
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia bonsi
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia brygooi
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia decaryi
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia dentata
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia ebenaui
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia exarmata
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia griveaudi
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia karchei
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia lambertoni
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia lineata
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia lolontany
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia minima		Nosy Be Pygmy Leaf Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia nasus
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia perarmata		Armored Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia peyrierasi		Peyrieras's Dwarf Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia stumpffi
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia superciliaris		Horned Leaf Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia therezieni
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia thieli		Thiel's Pygmy Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia tuberculata
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia vadoni
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Brookesia Brookesia valerieae
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer angeli		Angel's Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer antimena		Spiny Desert Rhinoceros Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer balteatus
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer belalandaensis
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer bifidus
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer campani
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer labordi		Labord's Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer lateralis		Jeweled Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer minor		Lesser Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer monoceras
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer nicosiai
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer oustaleti		Oustalet's Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer pardalis		Panther Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer petteri		Petter's Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer polleni		Pollen's Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer rhinoceratus		Rhinoceros Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer tuzetae
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer verrucosus		Warty Chameleon
Lizards / Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons) / Furcifer Furcifer willsii		Willsi's Chameleon

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