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chameleon are reptiles that are part of the iguana suborder . These colourful lizard are known as one of the few animal that can deepen skin color . However , it is a misconception that Chamaeleon change colors to match their surroundings .
Size
According to theIntegrated Taxonomic Information System(ITIS ) , there are 171 coinage of chameleon . With so many different coinage , there are many dissimilar size .
The largest chameleon is the Parson ’s chameleon , accord to Encyclopedia Britannica . It can raise up to 27 inch ( 69.5 centimeters ) long . The Madagascan , also lie with as the Oustalet ’s chameleon , is also very large and get up to 23 inch ( 60 curium ) long .
Thesmallest chameleonhas a limited distinction . It is also one of the minor vertebrate ever let out . The foliage chamaeleon grow to just 0.5 inch ( 16 millimeters ) and can sit comfortably on the head of a friction match .
Male and female chameleons have different coloring. Female and juvenile chameleons are tan-brown with bits of pink or orange, while adult males have varying combinations of bright red, green, blue and yellow, the researchers said.
Unlike other creature , chameleons continue to grow throughout their life . As their old tegument gets too modest , they will shed it in bit and firearm , different to snakes that shed their skin all at once .
Skin of many colors
Changing skin color is an important part of communication among chameleons . agree to theSan Diego Zoo , a chameleon ’s pelt change colors in response to its emotion , such as anger or veneration , change in light , temperature or humidity .
The brighter the colour , the more rife the male is , and the more attractive he is to female person . A submissive male person is usually brown or grey-haired . Females use their colors to accept or reject a suitor , and their color can also indicate that she is pregnant .
A fresh study has find thatchameleons can apace exchange colorby conform especial cell , called iridophore cells , in each layer . The chameleons can change the structural arrangement of the upper electric cell layer by relaxing or exciting the skin , which extend to a change in color , researchers found . [ Photos : How Chameleons Change Color ]
Habitat
chameleon live in Madagascar , Africa , Spain , Portugal and Asia in pelting wood , savanna , semi - deserts and steppes , grant to the San Diego Zoo . They typically detain in trees or chaparral , though some specie do live on the ground . For example , the horned leaf chameleon inhabit in bushed leaves on forest flooring according to the National Wildlife Federation . [ picture : 11 colored Chameleons of Madagascar ]
Habits
Most chameleons have a avaricious fundament that they use to twine around tree diagram branches . Their hand and feet have turgid toes that assist them cling to arm .
Besides changing skin color , chameleons have another lineament that no other animals have . Their eyes can move severally of each other , enable them to look in two dissimilar directions at once . Chameleons have a full 360 - degree view and can focus their eyes chop-chop and enlarge what they are looking at like a camera lens .
Chameleons are loner . In fact , most of the time females do n’t desire males to even come near them . During the uncommon consequence when the female is willing to be touch , the male person will go up for pairing . A brighter colorful manlike chameleon is more probable to convince a female person to twin than a duller colored male .
Diet
chamaeleon feed insect and birds . To catch their quarry , they grovel along very slowly . Once the target is in reach , their suction cup knife film out and sticks to the insect . Their tongues can be as double as long as their eubstance when stretched out to catch prey , allot to Encyclopedia Britannica . The insect is drawn back into the lizard ’s mouth to be digested by unassailable stomach acids .
Water is very crucial to Chamaeleon emergence and wellness . They either slurp H2O up using their tongues or the inhale it .
Offspring
Chameleon are unlike from many reptile because some of the species , like the Jackson ’s Chamaeleon , have unrecorded births . These species can give birthing to eight to 30 young at one clip after a gestation of four to six month . While the young are bear live alternatively of in an egg , they started as an testis . These mothers incubate the egg , minus a case , inside of her body instead of position them in a nest .
Other chameleon species lay eggs that have an incubation period of four to 24 months , depending on mintage , consort to the San Diego Zoo . The size of it of the Chamaeleon predicts how many eggs she will lay . Small chamaeleon species lay two to four eggs while larger chameleons lay 80 to 100 eggs at one time .
No matter what species , chameleons become mature at 1 to 2 years of years . The elision is the Madagascan chamaeleon . It has been labeled as the vertebrate with the public ’s shortest life span , harmonize to Encyclopedia Britannica . Their eggs hatch in November , the young become adults in January , they lay eggs in February , and then the intact adult population perishes after a lifetime of just three calendar month .
Classification/taxonomy
The taxonomy of chameleon , according to the ITIS , is :
Conservation status
According to International Union for Conservation of Nature ’s Red List of Threatened Species , many species of chameleon are peril . Some species that are considered in danger of experimental extinction are the tiger Chamaeleon , Elandsberg nanus Chamaeleon , Namoroka leaf chameleon and the Decary ’s leafage chameleon .
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