Chameleons are very slow animals. They are slower than most turtles! They have five finger in two bundles specially shaped for climbing.

Chameleons have five layers of skin. Each layer has a different purpose. The top layer of their skin is made with the same material as our finger nails. Some fish, frogs, and octopus have the same pigment cell as chameleons.

Chameleons eat mostly insects. Some of them even eat small lizards or even birds! They shoot out their tongues to catch their prey in less than a third of a second.

Most chameleons lay eggs. Some chameleons like the Jackson’s chameleon have live young. The eggs are held in the female’s body until hatching. Incubation or gestation can last from three to eighteen months. Some species produce several hundred offspring a year. When a male is looking for a mate they display bright colors.

Chameleons have one eye looking backwards and one eye looking forward. Most chameleons are arboreal, which means that they live in the trees. Some chameleons are terrestrial, which means they live on the ground. Chameleons use their tails for climbing and balance. Even though chameleons are small they have a very tight grip.

There are over a hundred-fifty species of chameleons. The pygmy chameleon is only two inches long but the giant Madagascan chameleon is over two feet long! Chameleons puff up when they get mad. Chameleons can be tamed and bred for pet.