hi guys, i am a keep chameleon keeper and i only have veiled chameleons at the moment so i am creating a research board for my room for my knowledge. would people be able to help me improve what i have and validate it please.
Panther Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Furcifer pardalis
Distribution: Northern and Eastern Madagascar
Diet: Crickets, beetle larva, grasshoppers, meal worms, wax worms
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 24-32 C
The vibrant colours of the panther chameleon makes it easily the most beautiful and eye-catching lizard in the animal kingdom. Males have an average length of 20 inches and females measure around 17 inches. They are more colourful and look more striking than females. In case the female panther chameleon has laid eggs many times or is carrying eggs, she will turn into a dark brown or black colour to indicate that she is not interested in mating. Average lifespan of a panther chameleon is around 10 years. Females after laying eggs live for 2-3 years.
locals
Nosy Faly
Nosy Be
Nosy Mitsio
Nosy Boraha (St. Marie)
Ambanja
Ambilobe
Ankaramy
Diego Suarez
Sambava (includes Andapa)
Tamatave (includes Maroantsetra)
Fischer's Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Kinyongia fischeri
Distribution: Nguru, Tanzania
Diet: Crickets, roaches, giant mealworms, mice
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 80- 90f
This chameleon species has a distinct difference between its male and female members on the basis of size. Males are larger, reaching a length of 15 inches and have an impressive 1 inch sized horn extending from their foreheads. Females are smaller in length, their maximum length is 9-10 inches. It is mistakenly assumed that they are hornless but females have tiny horns which extend just 1/8 inches out of their heads. This is a hardy and tough reptile, which is used to living in high humidity and high temperature conditions. They lay 10-20 eggs in a clutch. The eggs take around 5-6 months to hatch, which is a rather fast, when compared to other chameleon species.
High Casqued Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Chamaeleo hoehnelii
Distribution: Eastern Africa, Uganda and Kenya
Diet: Small insects and spiders
UV: 2% UV stripe bulb
Humidity: 60-70%
Temperature: 22-25C
This medium-sized chameleon comes in many colours. It often shows a dark colouring when basking in the sunlight, as darker colours can absorb maximum heat. The males are larger than the females. They have a single horn, serrated back and tiny spikes on their neck. Females have a broader casque and tail. While putting up a strutting display during courtship, males exhibit bright colours to compete with other males. The pair stays together till the end of the breeding season and split up right after the giving birth. While catching their prey, the chameleon can extend their tongue to lengths, equivalent to that of their body length.
Jackson's Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Chamaeleo jacksonii
Distribution: Kenya and Tanzania
Diet: Small insects
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-80%
Temperature: 65-85f
Jackson's chameleons are medium-sized lizards and grow up to a maximum length of 12 inches. Average lifespan of this species varies but males tend to live longer than females. The young reach their sexual maturity in 5 months. The gestation period lasts up to 5-6 months and after that, they give birth to 8-10 live babies. These reptiles are bright green in colour but there are cases where their colours have been blue and yellow. Depending on their mood, external temperature and their health conditions, they can change their colour.
Meller's Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Chamaeleo melleri
Distribution: Madagascar
Diet: Insects, small lizards, worms, spiders, small birds, caterpillars
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 20-80% night day
Temperature: 27-29C
This is amongst the largest chameleon species that reach up to 24 inches in length and weigh around 600g. Females are shorter than males and have small dorsal crests. The flanks of this chameleon are coloured brown, black, yellow or dark green. The chameleon is coloured with deep green colour with white stripes across its body. Its mood drives the chameleon to change its colour to different shades of green, black and other different colours. The female Meller's Chameleon lays around 80 eggs in a clutch and the new-borns are 4 inches in length. The average lifespan of these reptiles can go up to 12 years.
Namaqua Desert Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Chamaeleo namaquensis
Distribution: Namib Desert and Southern Angola
Diet: Beetles, crickets, lizards, scorpions, small snakes
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 24-32 C
The Namaqua chameleon has amazing adaptations and is well suited to survive the harsh conditions of the desert. The chameleon turns darker in the shade, to absorb more heat during cooler nights and turn grey during the day. The female lays 20 eggs, which take around 100 days to hatch. The Namaqua chameleon is quick at catching prey due to the scarcity of food in deserts as they don't want to let go their food. The common predators of Namaqua desert chameleon are eagles, jackals and hawks. Namaqua chameleon can spread its toes wide apart, which helps it to crawl faster on the ground.
Parson's Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Calumma parsonii
Distribution: Eastern and Northern Madagascar
Diet: Small insects
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 24-32 C
They are the second largest chameleon species. The two subspecies, Calumma p. parsonii and Calumma p. cristtifer can reach lengths of 27 inches and 19 inches respectively. The female Parson's chameleon lays 50 eggs once in two years. These eggs take around a year to hatch and as soon as the eggs are hatched, the young ones are left on their own to survive in the wild. In some cases their eggs take two years to hatch. The length of the tongue is more than the body. They are often found in running water. The lifespan of a Parson chameleon is 7 years.
Pygmy Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Rhampholeon brevicaudatus
Distribution: Usambara, Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania
Diet: Small insects
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 28-30C
These are small-sized reaching 3 inches in length. They are mostly tan or brown coloured. It usually changes into colours that help blend them into their environment. However, when they are stressed or angry, they change into a dark colour. They resemble a dry leaf and often adopt this look, while sleeping in the open. As per their emotion, they can change their colour into green, orange, black and brown. A Pygmy chameleon has a tongue longer than its body which allows it to catch smaller insects. They have eyes that can move independently and scan their environment.
Veiled Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Chamaeleo calyptratus
Distribution: Yemen and Saudi Arabia
Diet: Leaves, fruits and blossoms
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 26-32C
The environment of a veiled chameleon determines its colouring. The chameleon is green in colour, but changes into dark lime or red colour, if there is a slight change in its mood and environment. Males have spurs on their hind legs which grow as they mature. Both males and females have casques on their head. Males reach up to a length of 24 inches and females grow to 12 inches. Males display striking colours to compete with other males and to attract females. The female lays 20-70 eggs in each clutch.
Panther Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Furcifer pardalis
Distribution: Northern and Eastern Madagascar
Diet: Crickets, beetle larva, grasshoppers, meal worms, wax worms
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 24-32 C
The vibrant colours of the panther chameleon makes it easily the most beautiful and eye-catching lizard in the animal kingdom. Males have an average length of 20 inches and females measure around 17 inches. They are more colourful and look more striking than females. In case the female panther chameleon has laid eggs many times or is carrying eggs, she will turn into a dark brown or black colour to indicate that she is not interested in mating. Average lifespan of a panther chameleon is around 10 years. Females after laying eggs live for 2-3 years.
locals
Nosy Faly
Nosy Be
Nosy Mitsio
Nosy Boraha (St. Marie)
Ambanja
Ambilobe
Ankaramy
Diego Suarez
Sambava (includes Andapa)
Tamatave (includes Maroantsetra)
Fischer's Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Kinyongia fischeri
Distribution: Nguru, Tanzania
Diet: Crickets, roaches, giant mealworms, mice
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 80- 90f
This chameleon species has a distinct difference between its male and female members on the basis of size. Males are larger, reaching a length of 15 inches and have an impressive 1 inch sized horn extending from their foreheads. Females are smaller in length, their maximum length is 9-10 inches. It is mistakenly assumed that they are hornless but females have tiny horns which extend just 1/8 inches out of their heads. This is a hardy and tough reptile, which is used to living in high humidity and high temperature conditions. They lay 10-20 eggs in a clutch. The eggs take around 5-6 months to hatch, which is a rather fast, when compared to other chameleon species.
High Casqued Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Chamaeleo hoehnelii
Distribution: Eastern Africa, Uganda and Kenya
Diet: Small insects and spiders
UV: 2% UV stripe bulb
Humidity: 60-70%
Temperature: 22-25C
This medium-sized chameleon comes in many colours. It often shows a dark colouring when basking in the sunlight, as darker colours can absorb maximum heat. The males are larger than the females. They have a single horn, serrated back and tiny spikes on their neck. Females have a broader casque and tail. While putting up a strutting display during courtship, males exhibit bright colours to compete with other males. The pair stays together till the end of the breeding season and split up right after the giving birth. While catching their prey, the chameleon can extend their tongue to lengths, equivalent to that of their body length.
Jackson's Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Chamaeleo jacksonii
Distribution: Kenya and Tanzania
Diet: Small insects
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-80%
Temperature: 65-85f
Jackson's chameleons are medium-sized lizards and grow up to a maximum length of 12 inches. Average lifespan of this species varies but males tend to live longer than females. The young reach their sexual maturity in 5 months. The gestation period lasts up to 5-6 months and after that, they give birth to 8-10 live babies. These reptiles are bright green in colour but there are cases where their colours have been blue and yellow. Depending on their mood, external temperature and their health conditions, they can change their colour.
Meller's Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Chamaeleo melleri
Distribution: Madagascar
Diet: Insects, small lizards, worms, spiders, small birds, caterpillars
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 20-80% night day
Temperature: 27-29C
This is amongst the largest chameleon species that reach up to 24 inches in length and weigh around 600g. Females are shorter than males and have small dorsal crests. The flanks of this chameleon are coloured brown, black, yellow or dark green. The chameleon is coloured with deep green colour with white stripes across its body. Its mood drives the chameleon to change its colour to different shades of green, black and other different colours. The female Meller's Chameleon lays around 80 eggs in a clutch and the new-borns are 4 inches in length. The average lifespan of these reptiles can go up to 12 years.
Namaqua Desert Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Chamaeleo namaquensis
Distribution: Namib Desert and Southern Angola
Diet: Beetles, crickets, lizards, scorpions, small snakes
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 24-32 C
The Namaqua chameleon has amazing adaptations and is well suited to survive the harsh conditions of the desert. The chameleon turns darker in the shade, to absorb more heat during cooler nights and turn grey during the day. The female lays 20 eggs, which take around 100 days to hatch. The Namaqua chameleon is quick at catching prey due to the scarcity of food in deserts as they don't want to let go their food. The common predators of Namaqua desert chameleon are eagles, jackals and hawks. Namaqua chameleon can spread its toes wide apart, which helps it to crawl faster on the ground.
Parson's Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Calumma parsonii
Distribution: Eastern and Northern Madagascar
Diet: Small insects
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 24-32 C
They are the second largest chameleon species. The two subspecies, Calumma p. parsonii and Calumma p. cristtifer can reach lengths of 27 inches and 19 inches respectively. The female Parson's chameleon lays 50 eggs once in two years. These eggs take around a year to hatch and as soon as the eggs are hatched, the young ones are left on their own to survive in the wild. In some cases their eggs take two years to hatch. The length of the tongue is more than the body. They are often found in running water. The lifespan of a Parson chameleon is 7 years.
Pygmy Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Rhampholeon brevicaudatus
Distribution: Usambara, Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania
Diet: Small insects
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 28-30C
These are small-sized reaching 3 inches in length. They are mostly tan or brown coloured. It usually changes into colours that help blend them into their environment. However, when they are stressed or angry, they change into a dark colour. They resemble a dry leaf and often adopt this look, while sleeping in the open. As per their emotion, they can change their colour into green, orange, black and brown. A Pygmy chameleon has a tongue longer than its body which allows it to catch smaller insects. They have eyes that can move independently and scan their environment.
Veiled Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Binomial Name: Chamaeleo calyptratus
Distribution: Yemen and Saudi Arabia
Diet: Leaves, fruits and blossoms
UV: 5.0 UVB bulb
Humidity: 50-60%
Temperature: 26-32C
The environment of a veiled chameleon determines its colouring. The chameleon is green in colour, but changes into dark lime or red colour, if there is a slight change in its mood and environment. Males have spurs on their hind legs which grow as they mature. Both males and females have casques on their head. Males reach up to a length of 24 inches and females grow to 12 inches. Males display striking colours to compete with other males and to attract females. The female lays 20-70 eggs in each clutch.
