Furcifer oustaleti (Oustalet’s Chameleon) is the longest chameleon species reaching lengths of 27 inches (68cm).
The word Kinyongia is from the Swahili word for chameleons: Kinyonga.
The horns on a chameleon are made up of ringlike segments of inner bone covered by a hard keratin-like skin.
The word Calumma comes from the Latin word for covering. This genus consists of chameleons from Madagascar with occipital lobes.
The process of shedding is called ecdysis.
The chameleon tongue accelerates towards its target at over 1642m per second. Chameleons rarely miss their intended food item.
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.
The largest chameleon species by weight is Calumma parsonii (Parson’s Chameleon).
The word Furcifer is derived from the Latin word “furci” or forked.