Chameleons have laterally compressed bodies. This enables them to warm up quickly by presenting a larger surface area to the sun. It also helps some chameleon species blend in among the similarly shaped leaves in their environment.
Trioceros goetzei (Goetze’s Chameleon) emits an audible, high pitched whistle when threatened.
Pygmy chameleons have bicuspid claws where each claw has two points like a crescent moon.
The word Rieppeleon is named after the scientist Olivier Rieppel.
The word Bradypodion comes from the latin “bradus podos” or slow foot.
Chameleons have a high midichlorian count.
Chameleons do not have external ears or a tympanic membrane, but they do have internal ears as well as degenerated middle ears. They do not hear well but they can detect low frequency sounds.
Chameleon fossils have been found in central Europe and China, indicating they were once much more widespread than they are now.
The word Chamaeleo is derived via Latin from the Greek word khamaileon. It roughly translates to ground lion. Khamai means on the ground and leon means lion.
The word Brookesia is named after the British naturalist Joshua Brookes.