Depth Perception

[GlennFrog]

How well can a chameleon perceive depth? I would imagine that they have some top notch depth perception, as they need to aim carefully to catch their food, but my chameleon Carmen, who sadly passed away recently due to an infection, would sometimes miss her target. Is this normal for chameleons, or was it a sign that she was sick? Do they sometimes aim outside the practical range of their tongue?

 

[MeruJack]

I've read that chameleons hit their target (prey) about 90% of the time.

 

[kwengkynator]

As you may have observed their eyes are independent of each other. The only time those eyes ever focus on one thing is when its a sec or so aways from shooting its tongue. During that short period they judge the image they see basing on the slight differences from the images they see from each eye. Same thing with humans. Each eye paints a different picture. Try looking at a distant object with 2 eyes open and hold your thumb over the object. Now close one eye. You can see that your thumb jumps slightly. Do the same with the other eye. Usually the image from your dominant eye moves the slightest.

The brain analyzes the 2 images and from there perceiving depth. Thats why the only time a chameleon's eye focuses on one thing is when its about to shoot its tongue.

Sometimes they can miss their target. I've seen my cham hit a target all the way across his cage and miss them 5 inches away. The frequency of misses can be a sign of a sickness though.

 

[leedragon]

I think this is a question for Christ andersson