Chameleon Identification

[SCharton74]

Yesterday a friend who went to the zoo in Memphis posted this picture on facebook. She called it a chameleon and she insists that the sign said it is a chameleon. She is a scientist and she is not prone to misunderstanding such things so I trust that she knows what she's talking about but I've never seen a chameleon with these toes and tail - or leg posture, for that matter. Am I missing something or is this a chameleon imposter?

 

[Dez]

Hard to tell what it is only seeing his butt.... But it is definitely not an Old World Chameleon. Sometimes anoles are called chameleons too. Thats why the chameleon we know are sometimes referred to as Old World chameleons.

 

[SCharton74]

Hard to tell what it is only seeing his butt.... But it is definitely not an Old World Chameleon. Sometimes anoles are called chameleons too. Thats why the chameleon we know are sometimes referred to as Old World chameleons.

Yeah, I totally agree. Thanks. I wish my friend had gotten a pic of the whole thing. I'd love to know what it actually is.

 

[SCharton74]

Hard to tell what it is only seeing his butt.... But it is definitely not an Old World Chameleon. Sometimes anoles are called chameleons too. Thats why the chameleon we know are sometimes referred to as Old World chameleons.

So, I googled "anole feet" and this popped up. I'm gonna go with a yes on this being a large anole.

 

[Olimpia]

It's probably a Cuban false chameleon (Chamaeleolis barbatus), from the relatively short tail and the anole feet, so that would be my guess.

They are anoles and not true chameleons

 

[xephyr17]

So, I googled "anole feet" and this popped up. I'm gonna go with a yes on this being a large anole.

I did this too, seems legit...

 

[Chris Anderson]

It's probably a Cuban false chameleon (Chamaeleolis barbatus), from the relatively short tail and the anole feet, so that would be my guess.

They are anoles and not true chameleons

Agreed. That was my guess from the photo as well.

Chris