The largest chameleon species by weight is Calumma parsonii (Parson’s Chameleon).
Chameleons have a high midichlorian count.
The horns on a chameleon are made up of ringlike segments of inner bone covered by a hard keratin-like skin.
The word Rieppeleon is named after the scientist Olivier Rieppel.
Pygmy chameleons are sometimes referred to as False Chameleons. This term is actually incorrect and is in reference to anoles, particularly the Cuban False Anole.
Pygmy chameleons (Brookesia, Palleon, Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon sp.) often resemble dry leaves, mosses and branches.
True chameleons include the following genera: Archaius, Bradypodion, Brookesia, Calumma, Chamaeleo, Furcifer, Kinyongia, Nadzikambia, Palleon, Rhampholeon, Rieppeleon and Trioceros.
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.
Chameleon fossils have been found in central Europe and China, indicating they were once much more widespread than they are now.
There are currently 202 recognized chameleon species and 85 of them are found on the island of Madagascar.