False Chameleons?

[blackbetty]

So, we went to Nashville Zoo yesterday and as Im being hurried through an exhibit, I happen to see a setup for "False Chameleons". I managed to snap a pic before my kids took off into darkness and I had to follow. I was wondering if anyone knew why they were called this? I could google it, but thats just too easy and then I cant share a pic.

Sorry, its blurry. My camera is still kicking my behind on trying to figure out setting and lighting..

 

[Syn]

Weird! I bet it's because they only have similar eyes.. nothing else really seems the same lol.

 

[Miss Lily]

They look like scaley camels!! Haven't a clue what they are - that bigger one just reminds me of a camel!

 

[Lizardlover]

problably just a show name, like giant spined chameleon for oustalets, but it isnt a chameleon, for sure, im thinking its a type of anole, in fact im pretty sure its a type of anole.

 

[merumontanus]

As lizardlover pointed out, that's a species of Anolis (synonymized with Chamaeleolis), within the family Polychrotidae. There are several species within this group, including barbatus, chamaeleonides, porcus, etc. They are a very cool species of anole native to the Caribbean islands, and not a chameleon at all.

These look a lot like A. barbatus.

Fabián

 

[merumontanus]

problably just a show name, like giant spined chameleon for oustalets, but it isnt a chameleon, for sure, im thinking its a type of anole, in fact im pretty sure its a type of anole.

Except, of course, that oustaleti is, in fact, a chameleon

 

[Syn]

Now that you say it it does look like an anole. Aren't these called something else here in America? Hahah.

 

[Chase]

Except, of course, that oustaleti is, in fact, a chameleon

He is saying that the name is another name is oustaleti.

 

[merumontanus]

He is saying that the name is another name is oustaleti.

Yeah, I know what he/she really meant by "show names" was really "common names". Just giving him a hard time.

 

[Eric Adrignola]

My friend in PA had gotten in somethign called a multicolored anole - I forget where it's from or what the name was. It was a good-sized anole, not huge, but it was different. It was VERY chameleon-like in behavior and morphology. As good an analog to chameleons as you'll see (maybe not counting the corythophanes from South/Central America).

It had splayed toes - not bundled, but they were splayed into two groups. It had independently rotating eyes, but they were not so obvious as chameleons. It's long, clearly-an-anole tail was partially prehensile. It had a great color changing ability.
It seemed to feed by lunging and grabbing, which is typical.

But the weird thing was that it was SLOW. It moved just like a chameleon in th ebody of an anole, except instead of shooting the tongue, it lunged.

an awesome little critter, I'd love to see them again.

It reminded me of the large anoles I saw on St. Lucia when I was about 12. They were about as big as Phelsuma grandis. Huge anoles that turned bright green or dark black (when we put three of them in a tennis ball container to smuggle them back to the US).

We figured we'd get in trouble, and released them.

They never even checked our bags at JFK...

 

[blackbetty]

They are also very comfortable in groups. The guy on the left was actually on his own for about 10 seconds until he saw me getting closer and he instantly jumped on the others back, whom was not affected by his presence at all.. So I noticed that was different. I wish I would have had more time to check them out.

 

[Lizardlover]

I googled them and it appears they come from Cuba, dont look anything like chameleons to me.

 

[laurie]

Don't know what they are but I like them, can I have one???

 

[Lizardlover]

YES! you broke the silence, the boards were completely silent for 15 min +!

PS. i was just saying yes to say yes, i dont have any "false chameleons"

 

[Sang]

yah, cuban anoles are really fun, i owned serveral a few years back. they are pretty cool.

although they do not have prehensile tails, they got super long tails, that are slightly prehensile...

eyes don't rotate on turrets but do stick out pretty far. and there about 6-7"s head to vent.. about 15"s head to tail.

pets inc, is currently selling a few at their store.

 

[Lizardlover]

they are all over in FL, invasive though....killing the native anoles.

 

[ColorCham427]

"Even Dinosaurs!"

-JP1

 

[YoshiTheVeiled]

Only thing I can notice is the eyes.
http://whozoo.org/Anlife2001/jamaliso/JSI_CubanFalseChameleon.htm

 

[Eric Adrignola]

these false chameleons are not cuban knight anoles - just in case anyone was confused. They're something far weirder.

And the multicolored anole Iwas talking about - different. Much cuter than those things. and they changed color quite a bit. love to find them again.

 

[keecoi]

Cuban false chameleon. I remember those. I was gonna post something like this coz I saw one at San diego zoo. Just never got to it. Betty got a better picture anyway.