Meet this master of disguise

Surely you know the chameleon, an animal that has the ability to change colors. However, do you know why he does it? We invite you to read to know the reasons and learn more about this incredible animal.

Chameleons belong to the group of reptiles and their family are lizards, in fact, at least 161 different species of chameleons are known. The size of these animals depends on the species, which is why it is very varied. For example, Parson’s chameleon, grow up to 70 centimeters while the male Nano measures less than 2.5 centimeters.

Chameleons don’t just change color for camouflage or protection from predators, they also do so when they’re happy, scared, or wanting to find a mate. The light and temperature conditions in their environment also cause chameleons to change color. Likewise, changing color helps them to communicate with their other chameleon friends, it’s like a secret code between them!

Chameleons have a fairly long tongue, which they quickly extend to catch their prey and eat it whole. Their food consists of insects and small animals. You can find chameleons in savannas, rainforests, and deserts. A quarter of them live in Africa on the island of Madagascar, the rest in Europe and Asia.

Fun facts

• The chameleon’s sticky tongue can be twice as long as its body and is the fastest in the world. Scientists found that lizards can accelerate their tongues from 0 to 60 miles in a hundredth of a second.
• They use their tails to grab hold of tree branches.
• His eyes can look in two directions at the same time.
• Chameleons can live up to twelve years in their natural habitat. Likewise, they dislike the company of other chameleons, for this reason they live alone.
• The female can lay up to 100 eggs which she hides under the ground.