Some chameleons play dead to avoid predation; this is called thanatosis.
Trioceros schubotzi can be found at elevations as high as 4500m.
Chameleons have a very poor sense of smell.
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.
The word Kinyongia is from the Swahili word for chameleons: Kinyonga.
The word Brookesia is named after the British naturalist Joshua Brookes.
The word Furcifer is derived from the Latin word “furci” or forked.
Pygmy chameleons (Brookesia, Palleon, Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon sp.) often resemble dry leaves, mosses and branches.
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.
Trioceros goetzei (Goetze’s Chameleon) emits an audible, high pitched whistle when threatened.