Pygmy chameleons (Brookesia, Palleon, Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon sp.) often resemble dry leaves, mosses and branches.
Furcifer labordi (Labord’s Chameleon) has the shortest lifespan of only 4-5 months. It also has the shortest lifespan of any tetrapod!
Chameleons do have taste buds on their tongue but overall they have a poor sense of taste.
The word Furcifer is derived from the Latin word “furci” or forked.
Trioceros goetzei (Goetze’s Chameleon) emits an audible, high pitched whistle when threatened.
The oldest known chameleon fossil is from the extinct species Chamaeleo caroliquarti. It was found in Europe and is 26 million years old.
There are currently 202 recognized chameleon species and 85 of them are found on the island of Madagascar.
Trioceros schubotzi can be found at elevations as high as 4500m.
The word Kinyongia is from the Swahili word for chameleons: Kinyonga.
Some chameleons play dead to avoid predation; this is called thanatosis.