Chameleons
belong to the class of reptiles of the order Squamate. Modern classification There are 11 genera of chameleons, which are formed by more than 193 species and subspecies. Of these, more than 60 species live in Madagascar.
These amazing animals, along with their other relatives, lead an extremely calm and measured lifestyle. Spending most of their life in trees, descending to the ground only during the mating season and to lay eggs.
Their habitat is quite wide: from the African continent and Magadascar, India and Sri Lanka to the Middle East, and even some countries in southern Europe. Most often they can be found in the jungle, savannas and, much less frequently, in the foothills, steppes and semi-deserts.
Physiological characteristics of chameleons
The average body length of chameleons is 30 cm; for the largest species it varies from 50 to 60 cm, and for the smallest it is only 3–5 cm. Adults of the most small looking(Brookesia micra) grow only up to 15 mm.
With their body structure, chameleons are somewhat different from other types of lizards. They are slightly flattened on the sides, and a small ridge of scales or skin growths stretches along the back. Some species also have a similar ridge along the abdomen. There are also two ridges above the eyes, and some chameleons also have one on the back of the head, resembling a kind of helmet.
In addition, some species have peculiar bone growths on their heads, shaped like horns. There can be from two, like the lobed chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis), to four (Chameleo quadricornus). Moreover, such growths are clearly expressed only in males, while in females they are only rudimentary in nature.
Due to the structure of their legs, chameleons are excellent rock, wall and tree climbers. They are long, shaped like crustacean claws, with sharp claws at the tips of the fingers, which help increase their natural tenacity several times. The tail of chameleons is thick at the base, gradually tapering towards the end. This shape allows chameleons to effectively use their tail to twist around branches, further increasing their tenacity.
There are several species of short-tailed chameleons. For example, the short-tailed dwarf chameleon (Rhampholeon brevicaudatus) living on the African continent has a total length of 5-8 cm. It has practically no tail, which is not entirely logical for chameleon species living in forests.
Along with an interesting body structure, chameleons also have a unique vision. Their eyes, framed by thick, keratinized eyelids, can rotate and look in different directions at the same time. So, chameleons can also observe what is happening in front, left, right and behind them. This ability, while remaining completely motionless, to provide all-round visibility, allows them to successfully obtain food and monitor the environment, ensuring their own safety from numerous enemies.
The most amazing property that chameleons have is their ability to camouflage themselves into the surrounding background, namely, to change the color of their body depending on the surface on which they are located. This ability is explained by the presence of chromatophore cells in their skin, which contain coloring pigments. In addition to using this ability for camouflage purposes, chameleons also change color in other life situations - when frightened, in mating games, and also to take on an aggressive coloration to scare away enemies. Moreover, the color of chameleons can be either monochromatic or completely multi-colored. Chameleon skin color also depends on temperature environment. During the mating season, when males fight for the right to possess females, the defeated chameleon turns dark, and sometimes even completely black, and is removed from the battlefield.
What do chameleons eat?
Chameleons are skilled hunters. They feed mainly on insects, but more large species They also eat small lizards, rodents and snakes. Also, chameleons are not averse to eating the leaves and fruits of some trees. While foraging for food, they take on the background of the surrounding area and can remain completely motionless for hours. Their main hunting weapon is a long tongue with a kind of suction cup at the end. By throwing out its tongue towards a potential victim at a speed of 1/20 of a second, a chameleon can catch up to four insects within three seconds.
If the prey is too heavy and strong, the chameleon can use its mouth to capture it. A very interesting ability of the chameleon is that in a state of rest or sleep, it “stores” its long tongue rolled into a tube in its own esophagus!!!
Chameleon breeding
In nature, there are two types of chameleons - oviparous and viviparous (mainly these include chameleons living in the foothills). Females of the first species lay 15-80 eggs (depending on the species) in a deep hole in the sand or soil and cover them with soil. The incubation period ranges from 3 to 10 months.
Viviparous chameleons give birth to 10 to 25 babies. The principle of their birth is that the female carries the eggs inside herself until the babies are born. This method of birth is due to the fact that mountainous area, where species of viviparous chameleons mainly live, the coolness of the night simply will not allow the baby chameleons to hatch from their eggs. Most chameleons, after the birth of offspring, cease to care about their further existence.
This article does not list all amazing facts about life and unique properties chameleons. Each species has its own incredible characteristics that make chameleons the most desirable pets in home terrariums.
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Chameleons are a family of scaly lizards that stand out clearly from other species with a number of very unusual features unique to them.
The name "" has very ancient roots: in the mythology of some countries it was the name of a strange creature that could quickly change its appearance.
general characteristics
On this moment 193 species of these unusual lizards are known, most of them are native to the island Madagascar. The remaining members of the family live in Africa, the extreme south and far north The Arabian Peninsula, on the west coast of India, as well as on small islands in the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. More recently, several new species of chameleons living in the steppes of California and Florida have been discovered, leaving scientists confused.
The natural habitat of chameleons is trees; they live, sleep, and hunt on the branches. Only a few species decided to move to land and now live in forests, African savannas, steppes and deserts.
Chameleons are medium-sized lizards, their body length ranges from 17 to 30 cm. However, there are exceptions: the Madagascar Chamaeleo oustaleti grows to 60 centimeters or more, and representatives of the genus Brookesia are not only the smallest chameleons, but also one of the tiniest reptiles on Earth - only 1.3-4.5 centimeters.
The body of chameleons is strongly flattened on the sides and in many species resembles an oval in shape. Males have various formations on their heads: horns, combs, drills. In females, these “decorations” are either rudimentary in nature or do not appear at all. The limbs are long, adapted for climbing trees. The fingers of chameleons are more like claws - grouped in groups of 2-3 and covered with solid skin up to the penultimate phalanges, they are directed in opposite directions. This finger shape is great for climbing tree branches. The tail often serves as a fifth limb; lizards can wrap it around branches.
Change in body color
This unique ability has made chameleons famous throughout the world and made them probably the most popular lizard. Which, in principle, is not strange, because few people are able to change their appearance so dramatically and even do it so quickly. The secret of this amazing ability of chameleons lies in the special structure of their skin. The skin consists of several separate layers, which differ in structure from each other. The topmost layer is transparent and serves to refract light and also performs a protective function. The deeper layers of the skin contain special cells - chromatophores, which contain pigments of different colors (black, dark brown, red and yellow), and each layer contains chromatophores of different colors. During the contraction of chromatophores, they contain a concentration of colored pigments in the center of the cell. This causes the lizard's skin color to change. The combination of colors from different layers gives the chameleon different color shades.
The color change occurs very quickly - less than half a minute. Interestingly, chameleons can change the color not only of the entire body, but also of individual parts, for example, the eyelids or tail.
But what makes a chameleon quickly change its color? It was previously believed that lizards needed this feature primarily for camouflage against the background of the environment. However, recent studies have shown that changing color for a chameleon is primarily a means of communication with its own kind, and not a means of protection and camouflage.
Also, many other external factors (high or low temperature, bright light) and internal (fear, irritation, hunger) origin.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the chameleon’s reaction during a threat - the lizard’s body swells, increasing slightly in size, the body acquires a menacing black (less often dark brown) color, and at the same time also hisses like a snake.
Vision device
The structure of a chameleon's eyes is also of considerable interest. Their eyes are quite large and complex; they are covered with a continuous eyelid, in which there is only a small hole for the pupil. However, this did not prevent the chameleon from acquiring the most accurate vision focusing system among lizards. Thanks to this, lizards are incredibly capable of determining the distance to objects around them, and just as clearly see objects at a very close distance from the eye.
Another very interesting feature- the eyes of the reptile master of camouflage are capable of moving independently of each other, so, for example, the left eye can look forward, and the right one back or to the right. Thanks to this, the animal receives a picture with a viewing angle of 360 degrees.
Ideal language
When you first look at a chameleon, thoughts like: how can such a slow and clumsy animal feed itself and generally survive in this world? But upon closer acquaintance with him, these questions begin to disappear. Yes, he doesn't look like a successful predator, but he is one. The chameleon knows how to perfectly camouflage and wait, and its unique vision allows it to see literally everything that is happening around. All that was left was the fishing weapon (the murder weapon, if you like). This very tool is the language.
As researchers and scientists say, the chameleon's tongue is the world's most advanced "catapult", it is incredibly effective, simple and also easy to control. Quote: “It has no analogues either in biology or mechanics” - this is an ideal fishing tool!
We will not go into details of the device of the “miracle of the tongue” (since you can find many publications on this topic on the Internet), we will just list its key features:
- the tongue can “shoot” over a distance of one and a half lengths of the lizard’s body and catch the victim using a special suction cup;
- It takes one twentieth of a second for the tongue to reach an insect!
- in 3 seconds a chameleon can catch 4 insects with its tongue!
- tongue acceleration is an incredible 50g!
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Perhaps chameleons are one of the most wonderful and unusual creatures on our planet. Their amazing abilities amaze people and leave scientists scratching their heads. You, of course, have heard that these reptiles have amazing feature change your color. But do you know how many species of chameleons there are and where they live? If these creatures interest you and you wouldn't mind becoming the owner of one of these masters of disguise, take a look at 25 facts about them.
These interesting animals are widespread
Desert chameleon
Chameleons are widespread: they can be found in deserts, virgin tropical and mangrove forests, savannas and plains. One thing always remains the same - cold-blooded reptiles love warm climates.
They can be found mainly in Madagascar
Madagascar chameleon
They can be found anywhere: on the Hawaiian archipelago, the Californian shores, the swamps of Florida, the humid jungles of Asia and the sunny forests of southern Europe. However, most of the nearly 200 species of these creatures live in Madagascar.
Among chameleons there are viviparous
Baby chameleon sleeping
Like all lizards, most chameleon species lay eggs. But there are certain subspecies that give birth to live young in cocoon-like sacs.
origin of name
A chameleon basking in the sun may not notice its prey
The English word "chameleon" comes from the Latin word "chamaeleón", which translates to "lion of the earth".
The largest species
Parson's Chameleon
Parson's chameleon is the largest species of these reptiles. Its length reaches 75 centimeters.
Smallest species
Leaf chameleon on a match
Surprisingly, the smallest chameleon can comfortably fit on a match head. Its dimensions are no more than one and a half centimeters. Representatives of this species, leaf chameleons, are also the smallest vertebrates.
Vision Capabilities
Chameleon while hunting
Their vision is truly amazing: they can see in two diametrically opposite directions, and the viewing angle is a full 360 degrees.
Well such a long tongue
Chameleon and its prey caught on the tongue
The tongue of these reptiles is no less interesting: it is twice as long as the body and can “shoot” towards the prey with incredible speed.
What do cute creatures eat?
Chameleon after a big lunch
The diet of these creatures mainly includes insects, but large species of these lizards can easily dine on other reptiles or even birds.
Lonely travelers
Male and female during mating period
All chameleons are loners and do not want to see their relatives, regardless of gender. Of course, the exception is the mating period, but even at this time the male must make every possible effort so that the female allows her to touch him.
So-so parents
Young chameleon
Chameleons are bad parents. Immediately after birth, the small reptile is left to its own devices until it has its own offspring or gets eaten by predators. And again.
Lack of ears
You can't see your ears, but they hear everything
These creatures do not have an outer and middle ear (like reptiles). However, this does not mean that they are deaf. Their hearing sensitively detects sound waves in the range of 250–650 Hz.
Not everything is true, it's a myth
Chameleon at night
The most common myth about them is that they change skin color for the sake of camouflage. The reasons for this are completely different: regulating body temperature, demonstrating emotions and communicating with other members of their species (which, although rare, do happen).
Slobbery affairs
Chameleon feeling threatened
According to scientists, the saliva of chameleons is almost 500 times more viscous than that of humans.
Why do some people have a sail on their head?
Yemen chameleon growth
Yemeni individuals wear a kind of “sail” on their heads, which is used to collect water: condensation collects into drops and simply rolls into the reptile’s open mouth.
Don't come any closer!
That's who loves personal space
Chameleons are extremely sensitive in matters of personal space and carefully protect their territory from uninvited guests. Therefore, owners of these reptiles are strongly recommended to keep only one individual.
The most ancient
Sleeping adult chameleon
The oldest known species of chameleon is Anqingosaurus Brevicephalus, which lived in the Middle Paleocene (about 60 million years BC) in what is now China.
Lifespan
Chameleons are calm with people
IN wildlife chameleons live no more four years. However, in captivity they calmly live up to ten.
Color change
Chameleon in the process of changing color
Some species can completely change color in 15 seconds.
Fast and strong
The moment the tongue hits the victim
The chameleon's tongue reaches prey in 0.08 seconds, while developing a force of 40 g.
Chameleon is an animal which stands out not only for its ability to change colors, but also for its ability to move its eyes independently of each other. Not only these facts make him the most amazing lizard in the world.
Features and habitat of the chameleon
There is an opinion that the name chameleon comes from the Greek language and means “earth lion.” The chameleon's habitat is Sri Lanka and Southern Europe.
Most often found in savannas and forests of the tropics, some live in the foothills and a very small amount occupies steppe zones. Today there are about 160 species of reptiles. More than 60 of them live in Madagascar.
The remains of the oldest chameleon, which is approximately 26 million years old, were found in Europe. The length of an average reptile is 30 cm. The largest individuals type of chameleon Furcifer oustaleti reach 70 cm. Representatives of Brookesia micra grow only up to 15 mm.
The chameleon's head is decorated with a crest, tubercles or elongated and pointed horns. Such features are characteristic only of males. By its appearance chameleon look like lizard, but in reality they have little in common.
The sides of the chameleon’s body are so flattened that it seems as if it has been under pressure. The presence of a jagged and pointed ridge makes it resemble a small dragon; the neck is practically absent.
On the long and thin legs there are five toes, which are fused in the opposite direction to each other by 2 and 3 toes and form a kind of claw. Each finger has a sharp claw. This allows the animal to perfectly hold on and move along the surface of trees.
The chameleon's tail is quite thick, but towards the end it becomes narrow and can curl into a spiral. This is also the grasping organ of a reptile. However, some species have a short tail.
The reptile's tongue is one and a half to two times longer than the body. They use it to catch prey. With lightning speed (0.07 seconds), throwing out their tongues, chameleons capture the victim, leaving virtually no chance of salvation. Animals lack an outer and middle ear, which makes them practically deaf. But they can still perceive sounds in the range of 200–600 Hertz.
This disadvantage is compensated by excellent vision. Chameleons' eyelids constantly cover their eyes because... are fused. There are special holes for the pupils. The left and right eyes move uncoordinated, which allows you to see everything around you from a 360-degree angle.
Before attacking, the animal focuses both eyes on the prey. The quality of vision makes it possible to find insects at a distance of ten meters. Chameleons see perfectly under ultraviolet light. Being in this part of the light spectrum, reptiles are more active than in the normal part.
The photo shows the eye of a chameleon
Particularly popular chameleons acquired due to their ability to change color. There is an opinion that by changing color the animal disguises itself as environment, But it's not right. Emotional mood (fear, feeling of hunger, mating games, etc.), as well as environmental conditions (humidity, temperature, light, etc.) are factors that influence the change in the color of a reptile.
The color change occurs due to chromatophores - cells that contain the corresponding pigments. This process lasts several minutes, and the color does not change significantly.
Character and lifestyle of a chameleon
Chameleons spend almost their entire lives in tree branches. They only come down during the mating season. It is in this environment that it is easier for the chameleon to maintain camouflage. It is difficult to move on the ground with clawed paws. That's why they have a swaying gait. Only the presence of several points of support, including a grasping tail, allows animals to feel great in the thickets.
Chameleons are active during the daytime. They move little. They prefer to be in one place, wrapping their tail and paws around a tree branch. But they run and jump quite quickly if necessary. Carnivores and mammals, large lizards and some types of snakes can pose a danger to the chameleon. When it sees an enemy, the reptile inflates like a balloon and its color changes.
As it exhales, the chameleon begins to snort and hiss, trying to scare the enemy. It may even bite, but since the animal has weak teeth, it does not cause serious wounds. Now many people have a desire buy an animal chameleon. At home they are kept in a terrarium. Chameleon as a pet will not cause much trouble if you create comfortable conditions for him. It is better to consult a specialist on this issue.
Nutrition
The chameleon's diet consists of various insects. While in ambush, the reptile sits on a tree branch for a long time, only its eyes are in constant motion. True, sometimes a chameleon can very slowly creep up on its prey. The insect is captured by throwing out the tongue and pulling the victim into the mouth.
This happens instantly; up to four insects can be caught in just three seconds. Chameleons hold food with the help of the extended end of the tongue, which acts as a suction cup, and very sticky saliva. Large objects are fixed using a movable process on the tongue.
Water is consumed from standing reservoirs. When moisture is lost, the eyes begin to droop and the animals practically “dry up.” At home chameleon prefers crickets, tropical cockroaches, fruits, leaves of some plants. We must not forget about water.
Reproduction and lifespan
Most chameleons are oviparous. After fertilization, the female carries the eggs for up to two months. Some time before laying eggs, the expectant mother shows extreme anxiety and aggression. They develop bright colors and do not allow males to approach them.
Future mom descends to the ground and looks for a place to dig a hole and lay eggs. Each species has a different number of eggs and can range from 10 to 60. There can be about three clutches throughout the year. The development of the embryo can take from five months to two years (also depending on the species).
The babies are born independent and, as soon as they hatch, run to the plants to hide from enemies. If the male is absent, the female may lay "fat" eggs, from which the young will not hatch. They disappear after a few days.
The birth principle of viviparous chameleons is not very different from oviparous chameleons. The difference is that the female carries the eggs inside herself until the babies are born. In this case, up to 20 children may appear. Chameleons do not raise their offspring.
The lifespan of a chameleon can be up to 9 years. Females live much shorter lives, as their health is undermined by pregnancy. Price for chameleons Not very tall. However, the unusualness of the animal, the charming appearance and funny habits can please the most picky fauna lover.
The chameleon is a unique animal. In the process of evolution, it acquired the ability not only to camouflage itself well, changing the color of its skin, but also to move its eyes independently of each other. Many species of chameleons can be kept by people in home terrariums. Photos taken by breeders prove that in some cases it is possible to achieve reproduction of these unique creatures in captivity.
Despite the fact that the study of these reptiles has been carried out for decades, much about chameleons still remains unknown. For example, at the end of the last century, an amazing variety of these creatures was discovered in Madagascar, the adults of which grow to only 1.5-2 cm. These creatures spend their entire lives unnoticed in the leaf litter, feeding on tiny insects. The characteristics of their lifestyle are not fully given, because such small lizards face many problems, including those related to finding a partner during the mating season.
All types of chameleons have their own distinctive features. This made them more adaptable to environmental conditions. Currently Full description anatomical features received more than 160 species of chameleons. More than 60 of them live in Madagascar. The most famous species of these animals, Furcifer oustaleti, constantly lives in trees. Large individuals of this species reach approximately 70 cm in length. When answering the question of what a chameleon is, you need to take into account that the size of most varieties of these creatures ranges from 10 to 35 cm.
This reptile has an extremely unusual appearance, so it can be easily distinguished from others. The chameleon lizard usually has some kind of decoration on its head in the form of elongated or pointed horns, bumps or a crest. Such elements serve as an addition to camouflage or to attract a partner during the mating season. All chameleons that live on branches have very tenacious paws, on which there are 5 fingers fused in the opposite direction to each other. Thus, 2 fingers extend back and 3 fingers move forward, forming a kind of claw. A photo of a chameleon on a support gives a complete idea that this paw structure is the most optimal for a creature living on branches. The tail of this animal can curl into a spiral. It is very tenacious, so it serves as an additional limb for those species of reptiles that live primarily in trees.
Most species of these lizards have a flattened body, which is an adaptation to the existing environmental conditions. There is usually a ridge on the back. The animal's eyes are bulging and seem to be enclosed in a leather cylinder of fused eyelids. Only the pupil remains open. Since these animals do not have a neck, mobile eyes, which can see 180° horizontally and 90° vertically, compensate for the lack of vision. It is difficult to find animals that look so amazing.
It is currently not 100% known which chameleons change color, as some species of these animals do this so rarely that photographs confirming this phenomenon have not yet been presented. Only the study of the structure of the skin, in which special pigment sacs are present, indicates the presence of such a possibility.
The color of the chameleon changes when individual such elements relax and contract. Some varieties of these lizards have developed the ability to blend into their surroundings thanks to pigment sacs. Chameleons living in the deserts of Africa use the ability to change the color of their skin so that the part exposed to the sun is darker, and the opposite part is almost white. This allows them to warm up faster in the early morning hours.
Another notable feature of all chameleons is their tongue. It can reach approximately 30 cm in length and has a forked sticky end. Particularly strong muscles shoot it out, not giving the victim a chance to escape from the lizard.
Distribution area of reptiles
Chameleons live mainly in the eastern hemisphere. Some of their varieties are found exclusively in Madagascar. Here, in closed conditions Islands, these creatures acquired unusual characteristics, which are the result of adaptation to the conditions existing in this area. Among the places where chameleons live, tropical forests of Africa stand out. Some lizards live in the hottest deserts of the African continent.
Thanks to their unique adaptability, chameleons survive well in conditions where there is practically no water and food supplies are quite scarce. The range of some species of chameleons extends to the islands of the Mediterranean Sea and the southern part of Turkey. In addition, 1 species of these creatures is found in India. Another variety is found on Tseloina and the island of Socorta. Some species of these animals are so rare that not all naturalists manage to take at least one photo of these creatures in their entire lives. The reasons for the rapid decline in the numbers of some species of these amazing lizards are deforestation and urbanization of their habitat areas.
What do chameleons eat?
Every living creature needs to eat to get enough nutrients and energy. Chameleons, like all reptiles, do not have the ability to maintain constant temperature body, so they require fewer calories to live. Thanks to this, chameleons, regardless of where they live, can sit motionless in ambush for many hours and sometimes days, waiting for their potential prey to come within enough distance for them to reach it with their tongue. Considering the special structure of this organ, it is not difficult to guess what these amazing animals eat. Their diet includes large quantities of:
- spiders;
- grasshoppers;
- butterflies;
- crickets;
- tropical cockroaches.
In arid areas, chameleons feed primarily on centipedes and ants. Individuals that live in the forest floor and are very modest in size will not be able to cope with the prey of their larger counterparts. The dwarf chameleon feeds mainly on microscopic insects that infest the litter. All species of these animals catch prey using a sticky tongue. The photos of this process are truly impressive. The lizard squeezes the victim pulled into its mouth with its jaws and then swallows it.
How do chameleons reproduce?
Many people are interested in how many years this amazing creature lives in captivity and in nature. In the wild, chameleons typically live between 3 and 7 years, depending on the species. At home, these creatures often manage to live longer, up to about 9 years. Females usually die earlier, as they often develop health problems after pregnancy. The lifespan of chameleons largely depends on what they eat and what kind of water they drink.
Currently, many photos and videos have been taken of how these unique lizards reproduce and are born. Let's give short description process. Typically, the mating season for chameleons begins in late summer. This animal reproduces only once a year. During the mating season, chameleons, which usually lead a very solitary lifestyle, begin to look for a mate. Males fight with rivals for the right to mate and change color in front of females to demonstrate their readiness to reproduce.
Most chameleon species are oviparous. Usually the female carries the eggs in her body for the first 2-3 months. At the end of September, she lays them in a dug hole, covering them with fallen leaves. A clutch can contain from 10 to 60 eggs, depending on the type of chameleon. Their shell is usually white. The female subsequently does not care about the clutch.
The young are born from eggs approximately 9 months after fertilization. The offspring are born fully formed and ready for independent life. After birth, the young immediately strive to climb higher into the trees, where they can find shelter from predators and a sufficient amount of food. During their first year of life, chameleons gain enough weight to reach the same size as adults. Females at this time begin to participate in mating games. Males become sexually mature in the 2-3rd year of life.
Some chameleons that live in regions where nighttime temperatures drop too low have become viviparous. Their young develop inside the female's body, since they would die outside. In this case, the eggs are not covered with a shell, but with a durable mucous membrane. Childbirth takes place right on the tree where the female sits. When born, the young break through their shell and immediately attach to the branch. The cubs are immediately ready to live independently and search for food.
