The word Rhampholeon is taken from the Latinized Greek “rhamphos leon” meaning crawling lion.
Chameleons have a high midichlorian count.
Chameleon fossils have been found in central Europe and China, indicating they were once much more widespread than they are now.
Many chameleon species have a bright red, orange or yellow mouth. This conspicuous interior when displayed is used as a defense against predators.
The word Rieppeleon is named after the scientist Olivier Rieppel.
Pygmy chameleons have bicuspid claws where each claw has two points like a crescent moon.
The word Brookesia is named after the British naturalist Joshua Brookes.
The oldest known chameleon fossil is from the extinct species Chamaeleo caroliquarti. It was found in Europe and is 26 million years old.
Chameleons can project their tongue up to 2.2 times their body length.
Chameleons change color by rearranging a lattice of nanocrystals in one of their top layers of skin cells called iridophores. Chameleons can then stretch this layer, broadening the nanocrystalline lattice, thereby causing it to reflect a different wavelength of light.