Chameleon
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Bradypodion |
- For alternative meanings of the word, see chameleon (disambiguation)
Chameleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are large lizards that belong to one of the best known lizard families. They are famous for their ability to change their colour, and also because of their elongated tongue and their eyes which can be moved independently of each other. Their eyes are the most unique among the reptiles. Among other things they can rotate and focus separately to observe two different objects simultaneously. The name "Chameleon" means "earth lion" and is derived from the Greek words chamai (on the ground, on the earth) and leon (lion). They lack a vomeronasal organ. Like snakes, they don't have an outer or a middle ear and seem to be deaf; at least they cannot detect airborne sounds. But some, maybe all, can communicate via vibrations that travel through solid material like branches.
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Distribution and habitat
The main distribution of Chameleons is Africa and Madagascar, and other tropical regions, although some species are also found in parts of southern Europe, Sri Lanka, India and Asia Minor. Different members of this family inhabit all kinds of biotopes like tropical and montane rain forests, savannahs and sometimes semideserts and steppes. Chameleons are mostly arboreal and are often found in trees or occasionally on smaller bushes. Some smaller species, however, live on the ground under foliage.
Behavior
All Chameleon species are diurnal. Their main activity is in the morning and in the evening. Chameleons are not active hunters but rather sit motionless for hours and wait for a prey to pass by. They mainly feed on different arthropods and small vertebrates. Chameleons live mostly solitary and are quite aggressive toward other members of the same species.
Change of color
Some Chameleon species are able to change their body color, which has made them one of the most famous lizard families. Contrary to popular belief, this change of color is not only an adaptation to the surroundings but also an expression of the physical and physiological condition of the lizard. The skin color is changed under influence of mood, light and temperature. The skin color also plays an important part in communication and rivalry fights.
Chameleons have specialized cells that lie in two layers under the chameleon's transparent outer skin. The cells in the upper layer, which are called chromatophores, contain yellow and red pigments. Below these chromatophores is another cell layer. Cells of this layer are called guanophores and they contain the colorless crystaline substance guanin. These guanophores reflect amongst others the blue part of incident light. If the upper layer of chromatophores is yellow, the reflected light becomes green (blue plus yellow). A layer of dark melanin containing melanophores is situated even deeper under these blue and white light reflecting guanophores.These melanophores influence the lightness of the reflected light. All these different pigment cells can relocate their pigments, thereby influencing the color of light which is reflected.
Classification of Chamaeleonidae
Family Chamaeleonidae
- Subfamily Chamaeleoninae (typical chameleons)
- Genus Bradypodion
- Genus Calumma
- Genus Chamaeleo
- Genus Furcifer
- Subfamily Brookesiinae (dwarf chameleons)
- Genus Brookesia
- Genus Rhampholeon
External links:
- http://www.chameleonnews.com/
- http://www.chamaeleonidae.com/
- http://www.chameleonjournals.com/
- http://www.afriherp.org
Other Meanings
Chameleon is also a character in the Xanth series of novels by Piers Anthony. Her talent is shapeshifting. In a cycle that goes on perpetually throughout her life, she become ugly and smart, then of average intelligence and looks, then pretty but stupid. She's married to Bink and currently resides with Bink just outside of Castle Roogna in a cottage cheese.
'Chameleon' is also the title of a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin for the Beach Boys; however they subsequently rejected the offer. 'Chameleon' is also the title of a different song by Herbie Hancock.
