True chameleons include the following genera: Archaius, Bradypodion, Brookesia, Calumma, Chamaeleo, Furcifer, Kinyongia, Nadzikambia, Palleon, Rhampholeon, Rieppeleon and Trioceros.
Chameleons can project their tongue up to 2.2 times their body length.
Pygmy chameleons (Brookesia, Palleon, Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon sp.) often resemble dry leaves, mosses and branches.
The word Rhampholeon is taken from the Latinized Greek “rhamphos leon” meaning crawling lion.
The largest chameleon species by weight is Calumma parsonii (Parson’s Chameleon).
Furcifer oustaleti (Oustalet’s Chameleon) is the longest chameleon species reaching lengths of 27 inches (68cm).
The horns on a chameleon are made up of ringlike segments of inner bone covered by a hard keratin-like skin.
The process of shedding is called ecdysis.
Chameleon fossils have been found in central Europe and China, indicating they were once much more widespread than they are now.
Furcifer labordi (Labord’s Chameleon) has the shortest lifespan of only 4-5 months. It also has the shortest lifespan of any tetrapod!