Trioceros goetzei (Goetze’s Chameleon) emits an audible, high pitched whistle when threatened.
Chameleons have a very poor sense of smell.
The chameleon tongue accelerates towards its target at over 1642m per second. Chameleons rarely miss their intended food item.
Furcifer labordi (Labord’s Chameleon) has the shortest lifespan of only 4-5 months. It also has the shortest lifespan of any tetrapod!
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.
Some chameleons play dead to avoid predation; this is called thanatosis.
Chameleons do have taste buds on their tongue but overall they have a poor sense of taste.
The largest chameleon species by weight is Calumma parsonii (Parson’s Chameleon).
Kinyongia uthmoelleri and Trioceros quadricornis gracilor have red claws.
The word Rieppeleon is named after the scientist Olivier Rieppel.