Chameleon8896
New Member
Why do chamelons sometimes touch where they are walking with their tounge?
Touching tounges on branches
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CamoChameleonsHuman
Chameleon Enthusiast
I've never seen this with mine but I'm not saying it doesn't happen. What species, age, sex?
Syreptyon
Chameleon Enthusiast
It's especially common in panther chameleons, I believe, especially younger ones.
It could be a territorial thing, or a sensory "checking out my environment" thing. But I think I may have also read that in the wild some species may do this because there is mineral-rich "dust" that ends up on branches blown in from the wind and that it's a subconscious way to get more nutrients. In captivity I doubt it serves much of a purpose
It could be a territorial thing, or a sensory "checking out my environment" thing. But I think I may have also read that in the wild some species may do this because there is mineral-rich "dust" that ends up on branches blown in from the wind and that it's a subconscious way to get more nutrients. In captivity I doubt it serves much of a purpose
Minidude140
Member
I have a Nosy Be panther and he does this all the time. From what I've read it's because they lack the Jacobson's organ like snakes have, so the need to physically lick their surroundings.
Chameleon8896
New Member
Ya my panther does it too
Chameleon8896
New Member
Ya I havent seen a veiled do it so it must be a panther thing I guess
SharpShooter
Avid Member
Mine does it, mainly on his free range. Our leopard gecko also does it sometimes. Pretty sure it's just like smelling for them.
Chameleon8896
New Member
Anyone ever seen a veiled do this?
CamoChameleonsHuman
Chameleon Enthusiast
My Veiled just trys to eat everything with his tongue. Once saw him shoot his tongue at his combo meter...
I am crying... omg I love your funny posts.
Brodybreaux25
Chameleon Enthusiast
Roux does it a lot, thought he was just looking for a drink... must be why he gets pissed when I blast him
Lennoncham
Chameleon Enthusiast
I have seen both my panthers do this but never my veiled. But I also have never seen my veiled drink but I know she must when I’m not around.
Also Lennon sometimes does it when he climbs on me. Maybe a way of checking there surroundings?
Also Lennon sometimes does it when he climbs on me. Maybe a way of checking there surroundings?
Chris Anderson
Dr. House of Chameleons
Various chameleon species are known to touch branches with the tip of their tongues (which are actually forked much like monitors and snakes), in what is often referred to as a tongue touch behavior. It hasn't been explicitly proven but it is likely that this behavior is actually an effort to pick up chemical ques in an effort to taste a new territory, possibly for the presence of other chameleons. It is speculated that males will often rub their vent or the secretions from their temporal gland on branches, possibly to mark territory. These chemical ques may then be transferred and deciphered by the Jacobson's Organ.
Chris
Chris
Zilla23
Established Member
OMG, I was doing the same thing to Ripley, I thought he was looking for water to drink so I kept spraying him, no wonder he give me the stank eye!!!
JoXie411
Chameleon Enthusiast
That would make sense why my male did that the other day. My female went on the gym I build them the day b4 and he was not happy with one spot
