Panther Chameleons
Meet one of the most colourful members of the chameleon family
Panther chameleons are known for their dazzling array of colours, with males sporting more vivid hues than females. Contrary to popular belief, chameleons don’t change their colour to camouflage. Instead, these shifts signal their mood and readiness to mate. Another fascinating reason they change colour is to regulate their body temperature. As cold-blooded reptiles, they will disperse the pigment melanin throughout their skin cells to appear darker to absorb more sunlight and stay warm.
- IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (at relatively low risk of extinction)
- Type: Reptile
- Habitat: Northern Madagascar
- Diet: Carnivore – insects, small birds, and small reptiles
- Size: 36 to 53 centimetres long
- Weight: 140 to 180 grams
facts about our animals
Fun Facts about Panther Chameleons
Chameleon eyes move independently from each other.
Their tongues can stretch one and a half to two times the length of their bodies.
They are zygodactyl and have two toes pointing forward and two toes pointing backwards, which helps them climb.
Males have a prominent “helmet” to give them added protection.
The tongue has a sticky tip to help capture prey.
When not in use, their tails are curled.
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