The word Furcifer is derived from the Latin word “furci” or forked.
The word Rhampholeon is taken from the Latinized Greek “rhamphos leon” meaning crawling lion.
True chameleons include the following genera: Archaius, Bradypodion, Brookesia, Calumma, Chamaeleo, Furcifer, Kinyongia, Nadzikambia, Palleon, Rhampholeon, Rieppeleon and Trioceros.
The word Kinyongia is from the Swahili word for chameleons: Kinyonga.
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 word Rieppeleon is named after the scientist Olivier Rieppel.
Trioceros goetzei (Goetze’s Chameleon) emits an audible, high pitched whistle when threatened.
The largest chameleon species by weight is Calumma parsonii (Parson’s Chameleon).
The word Brookesia is named after the British naturalist Joshua Brookes.
Chameleons can project their tongue up to 2.2 times their body length.