The largest chameleon species by weight is Calumma parsonii (Parson’s Chameleon).
True chameleons include the following genera: Archaius, Bradypodion, Brookesia, Calumma, Chamaeleo, Furcifer, Kinyongia, Nadzikambia, Palleon, Rhampholeon, Rieppeleon and Trioceros.
Kinyongia uthmoelleri and Trioceros quadricornis gracilor have red claws.
Some chameleons play dead to avoid predation; this is called thanatosis.
Chameleons do not have external ears or a tympanic membrane, but they do have internal ears as well as degenerated middle ears. They do not hear well but they can detect low frequency sounds.
The word Furcifer is derived from the Latin word “furci” or forked.
Chameleons do have taste buds on their tongue but overall they have a poor sense of taste.
Chameleons can project their tongue up to 2.2 times their body length.
The word Rieppeleon is named after the scientist Olivier Rieppel.
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.