Chamaeleo namaquensis is found in the desert of Namibia. To cool off it will sometimes bury itself in the sand.
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.
Chameleon fossils have been found in central Europe and China, indicating they were once much more widespread than they are now.
The word Brookesia is named after the British naturalist Joshua Brookes.
The word Kinyongia is from the Swahili word for chameleons: Kinyonga.
The word Rhampholeon is taken from the Latinized Greek “rhamphos leon” meaning crawling lion.
Chameleons do have taste buds on their tongue but overall they have a poor sense of taste.
The word Furcifer is derived from the Latin word “furci” or forked.
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.
The word Rieppeleon is named after the scientist Olivier Rieppel.