![]() ![]() The loser admits defeat by turning off his display. Males are more likely to win a fight if they have a brighter head color and change color more quickly. ![]() For example, males put on vibrant displays to attract mates or to indicate aggression when a rival male encroaches on its territory. When a chameleon does change color, it’s usually to stand out. While they can display bright reds, oranges, blues, yellows, and more, chameleons cannot change to match any color. However, the belief they can change to match their surroundings is a common misconception. It’s well-known that chameleons can change color, which they do using special cells and crystals in their skin. It keeps them safely hidden because they don’t have any poison or a dangerous bite to defend themselves. It’s this natural coloring that protects them from predators. AppearanceĬhameleons usually present as green or brown to blend into their arboreal habitat. Unlike many other lizards, chameleons cannot regrow their tails if they are cut off. Like seahorses and monkeys, they can wrap their tails around branches, freeing up their arms to reach for the next branch while keeping them steady. This allows them to use their toes like a finger and thumb to grip branches tightly. They have four feet, each with five toes-two that point in one direction and three in the other. Life in the treesĬhameleons are perfectly adapted to life in the trees. These solitary animals live in a range of habitats, including deserts, rainforests, and savannas. ![]() Their diet consists of insects and plants, although some may eat rodents or small birds. There are more than 200 species of chameleons, 76 of which are only found on the island of Madagascar. But while these animals are far from aggressive apex predators, the name chameleon comes from the Greek for “Earth lion.” They likely got the name from the crest on the head of some species that resembles a lion’s mane. There’s no mistaking the distinctive features of a chameleon: its telescopic eyes, grasping tail, color-changing skin, and projectile tongue. ![]()
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