firstly their size makes them virtually impossible to kill as only an animal close to their size would even attack them. Some people think that they change to match the background that they are in, but this is a common misconception. But why do they have color changing scales? Their unique eyes give them incredibly precise depth perception, making hunting insects a breeze. Ever do something totally embarrassing and have your face turn shades of pink or red? This hood is formed by a bony ridge on the back of the chameleon's skull. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Everybody is drinking and talking and having a good time, It's arrested for violating EU regulations. The lizard is most notable for its cone-shaped eyes that rotate in a 360-degree capacity. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Chameleons are insectovors which means they eat insects such as crickets and grasshoppers. When chameleons are hungry, they can use their super speedy, sticky, projectile tongue to catch prey. Yikes! Chameleons are known for their ability to change their body color. He would get a lot of karma karma karma karma karma chameleon. Other defense adaptations for both male and female chameleons are puffing out their throat or waving special head flaps to try to scare off their enemies. 41 of them, in fact! In some species of chameleon, the males have three long horns upon their heads that they can use to defend themselves. ( Log Out /  firstly their size makes them virtually impossible to kill as only an animal close to their size would even attack them. Adaptation; They change colour with their mood so if they are happy they could turn a light colour. Predators : There are a number of predators that prey on various species of chameleons. Services. A big list of chameleon jokes! These cells help the chameleon to express its emotion and to protect itself from predators. Their hands and feet have large toes that help them cling to branches.Besides changing skin color, chameleons have another feature that no other animals have. The chameleon is also highly adapted through its eyes. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal ( Log Out /  While color changing may be one of the most notable characteristics, chameleons are incredibly unique as a group. 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You will notice color changes as they adjust to the light and temperature within their environment. imaginable degree, area of If the chameleon is angry it could turn red or any dark colour. They are highly specialized creatures with some amazing adaptations. Chameleons or chamaeleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015. Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. It does that because it looks around to see if there are any predators lurking.If it sees one when it is on a tree it can quickly camouflage into the colour of the tree and the predator won't see it. Veiled chameleon Habitat of the panther chameleon. A chameleon is a cold-blooded lizard that uses the environment around it to help regulate its body temperature. Suddenly its sticky, two-foot-long tongue snaps out at 13 miles an hour, wrapping around a cricket and whipping the yummy snack back into the reptile’s mouth. You will often see their colors change as their feelings change. When dew collects atop of a chameleo… Chameleons contain specialised cells called Chromatophores. It is chock full of incredibly sharp cerated teeth. Each eye is like a separate camera that can adjust lighting, zoom in and even enlarge what they are looking at. Select a subject to preview related courses: The tongue of a chameleon is equally as amazing. First, the hood helps chameleons collect water. 2. Some of the adaptations that help it survive within its environment are color changing scales on its body, camera-like eyes, a long projectile tongue and defensive body maneuvers for survival. Stereoscopic Eyes– Chameleons have incredibly complex and developed eyes, which can be moved independently from one another to view multiple objects at once. Academia.edu is a platform for academics to share research papers. They can change colour quickly according to the environment they are in. They are found in trees and bushes. A chameleon is a cold-blooded lizard that lives in warmer jungle and grassland climates in Africa and Madagascar. These species come in a range of colors, and many species have the ability to change color. We'll take a close up look at these fascinating lizards and see how they physically and behaviorally adapt within their environment. Chameleon’s life cycle is similar to other lizards. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account.