The word Rieppeleon is named after the scientist Olivier Rieppel.
Furcifer oustaleti (Oustalet’s Chameleon) is the longest chameleon species reaching lengths of 27 inches (68cm).
The word Calumma comes from the Latin word for covering. This genus consists of chameleons from Madagascar with occipital lobes.
Chameleons do not have external ears or a tympanic membrane, but they do have internal ears as well as degenerated middle ears. They do not hear well but they can detect low frequency sounds.
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.
Chameleons can project their tongue up to 2.2 times their body length.
Pygmy chameleons have bicuspid claws where each claw has two points like a crescent moon.
The oldest known chameleon fossil is from the extinct species Chamaeleo caroliquarti. It was found in Europe and is 26 million years old.
Chameleon fossils have been found in central Europe and China, indicating they were once much more widespread than they are now.
Kinyongia uthmoelleri and Trioceros quadricornis gracilor have red claws.