Lizards > chameleons

Chameleons (Chamaeleonidae; verkleurmannetjies)

Chameleons are the most easily recognised lizards. The head and body are laterally compressed and the body is covered with small granular scales. The toes are usually bound together forming opposable grasping pads. The tail is usually prehensile and cannot be shed or regenerated. The protruding eyes can move independently. The tongue is telescopic and can be shot further than the body length to capture prey. Chameleons are primarily arboreal, but at least one South African species is terrestrial. They have the ability to change their body colour. The size range is from less than 2.5 cm total length to more than 50 cm. Chameleons are exclusively diurnal and primarily insectivorous. However, birds have been recorded from the stomachs of the larger species. Seventeen species occur in South Africa . A few newly discovered species await description.

 

Species occurring in the GCBC: