The largest chameleon species by weight is Calumma parsonii (Parson’s Chameleon).
Chameleons can project their tongue up to 2.2 times their body length.
Pygmy chameleons are sometimes referred to as False Chameleons. This term is actually incorrect and is in reference to anoles, particularly the Cuban False Anole.
Pygmy chameleons (Brookesia, Palleon, Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon sp.) often resemble dry leaves, mosses and branches.
The process of shedding is called ecdysis.
The word Rhampholeon is taken from the Latinized Greek “rhamphos leon” meaning crawling lion.
The word Chamaeleo is derived via Latin from the Greek word khamaileon. It roughly translates to ground lion. Khamai means on the ground and leon means lion.
The horns on a chameleon are made up of ringlike segments of inner bone covered by a hard keratin-like skin.
True chameleons include the following genera: Archaius, Bradypodion, Brookesia, Calumma, Chamaeleo, Furcifer, Kinyongia, Nadzikambia, Palleon, Rhampholeon, Rieppeleon and Trioceros.
The chameleon tongue accelerates towards its target at over 1642m per second. Chameleons rarely miss their intended food item.