The word Bradypodion comes from the latin “bradus podos” or slow foot.
The oldest known chameleon fossil is from the extinct species Chamaeleo caroliquarti. It was found in Europe and is 26 million years old.
The process of shedding is called ecdysis.
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 can project their tongue up to 2.2 times their body length.
Pygmy chameleons have bicuspid claws where each claw has two points like a crescent moon.
Trioceros goetzei (Goetze’s Chameleon) emits an audible, high pitched whistle when threatened.
Pygmy chameleons (Brookesia, Palleon, Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon sp.) often resemble dry leaves, mosses and branches.
There are currently 202 recognized chameleon species and 85 of them are found on the island of Madagascar.
The word Brookesia is named after the British naturalist Joshua Brookes.