Chameleons have acrodont teeth meaning they are an extension of the jawbone. They are not set in sockets nor are they replaced.
The word Rhampholeon is taken from the Latinized Greek “rhamphos leon” meaning crawling lion.
The process of shedding is called ecdysis.
Pygmy chameleons have bicuspid claws where each claw has two points like a crescent moon.
There are currently 202 recognized chameleon species and 85 of them are found on the island of Madagascar.
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.
Furcifer oustaleti (Oustalet’s Chameleon) is the longest chameleon species reaching lengths of 27 inches (68cm).
Chameleons change color by rearranging a lattice of nanocrystals in one of their top layers of skin cells called iridophores. Chameleons can then stretch this layer, broadening the nanocrystalline lattice, thereby causing it to reflect a different wavelength of light.
The largest chameleon species by weight is Calumma parsonii (Parson’s Chameleon).
The chameleon tongue accelerates towards its target at over 1642m per second. Chameleons rarely miss their intended food item.