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.
The word Bradypodion comes from the latin “bradus podos” or slow foot.
The process of shedding is called ecdysis.
The word Kinyongia is from the Swahili word for chameleons: Kinyonga.
Furcifer oustaleti (Oustalet’s Chameleon) is the longest chameleon species reaching lengths of 27 inches (68cm).
The smallest chameleon species is Brookesia micra with an adult length just over 1 inch (29mm). It hatches from an egg no bigger than a grain of rice!
Chameleons have a high midichlorian count.
Pygmy chameleons have bicuspid claws where each claw has two points like a crescent moon.
Pygmy chameleons (Brookesia, Palleon, Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon sp.) often resemble dry leaves, mosses and branches.