Chameleons have acrodont teeth meaning they are an extension of the jawbone. They are not set in sockets nor are they replaced.
True chameleons include the following genera: Archaius, Bradypodion, Brookesia, Calumma, Chamaeleo, Furcifer, Kinyongia, Nadzikambia, Palleon, Rhampholeon, Rieppeleon and Trioceros.
Some chameleons play dead to avoid predation; this is called thanatosis.
The oldest known chameleon fossil is from the extinct species Chamaeleo caroliquarti. It was found in Europe and is 26 million years old.
Pygmy chameleons have bicuspid claws where each claw has two points like a crescent moon.
Furcifer oustaleti (Oustalet’s Chameleon) is the longest chameleon species reaching lengths of 27 inches (68cm).
Trioceros schubotzi can be found at elevations as high as 4500m.
The word Kinyongia is from the Swahili word for chameleons: Kinyonga.
The word Brookesia is named after the British naturalist Joshua Brookes.
Chameleon fossils have been found in central Europe and China, indicating they were once much more widespread than they are now.