Chameleon fossils have been found in central Europe and China, indicating they were once much more widespread than they are now.
True chameleons include the following genera: Archaius, Bradypodion, Brookesia, Calumma, Chamaeleo, Furcifer, Kinyongia, Nadzikambia, Palleon, Rhampholeon, Rieppeleon and Trioceros.
Chameleons do have taste buds on their tongue but overall they have a poor sense of taste.
Trioceros goetzei (Goetze’s Chameleon) emits an audible, high pitched whistle when threatened.
Some chameleons play dead to avoid predation; this is called thanatosis.
Chameleons can project their tongue up to 2.2 times their body length.
Chamaeleo namaquensis is found in the desert of Namibia. To cool off it will sometimes bury itself in the sand.
Chameleons have laterally compressed bodies. This enables them to warm up quickly by presenting a larger surface area to the sun. It also helps some chameleon species blend in among the similarly shaped leaves in their environment.
Pygmy chameleons have bicuspid claws where each claw has two points like a crescent moon.
The largest chameleon species by weight is Calumma parsonii (Parson’s Chameleon).