The chameleon is a unique animal. Chameleon: interesting facts, photos and brief description. How a chameleon changes color

Chameleon is one of the most interesting lizards peace. It frightens and delights, surprises and fascinates. He's like a creature from another planet. Amazing, mysterious, bizarre, exotic...He is ridiculous and at the same time fantastically beautiful. Chameleons are known to people mainly due to their unusual ability. .

Chameleons live in only a few places on the planet, namely in Africa, India, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, the island of Madagascar, and also in Sri Lanka. The real kingdom of dinosaur descendants is in East Africa. 1/3 of all chameleons in the world live here. Most often they can be found in tropical forests and in savannas, less often in deserts and steppes.

Although chameleons (Latin Chamaeleonidae) belong to the family of lizards, they have little in common with them. The body of chameleons is flattened on the sides, the arched back is decorated with a crest, making the reptiles seem eternally hunched over. In some species, the head of a bizarre pyramidal shape is crowned with a crest, while others have outgrowths on the muzzle that resemble horns. True, for the most part males can boast of such decorations; in females they are less pronounced.

Whatever part of the chameleon we did not undertake to consider, it will be unusual.

The chameleon's secret weapon is the tongue.

Scientists struggled with the phenomenon of a chameleon's tongue for many years until they managed to film it using a super-high-speed camera. It turns out that the chameleon charges its tongue with energy in advance, in preparation for the shot. When starting a hunt, the reptile gives its tongue a shape that promotes acceleration. Just imagine, the acceleration of a chameleon's tongue during ejection is more than 250 times greater than the acceleration of free fall! Scientists even called the chameleon’s tongue the most advanced, effective and at the same time easy to operate “catapult.” To reach the victim, the reptile's tongue takes only 1/20th of a second. In 3 seconds the animal is able to catch four insects.

The chameleon's tongue is extremely powerful with cartilage inside and is slightly sticky at the tip. In the reptile's mouth it folds like a spring. When a chameleon takes aim at a prey, it sticks out the tip of its tongue slightly, as if blowing a bubble gum, and shoots sharply at the prey. It happens, of course, that it misses, but in most cases the accuracy of aiming does not fail.

It was also noticed interesting feature: the smaller the chameleon itself, the “faster” and longer its tongue relative to the length of its body. This is explained by the fact that “microchameleons” constantly need to replenish their bodies with food and energy; when hunting, they have no room for error.

It should be noted that a chameleon's tongue can be injured. It happens that during a hunt a reptile bites its tongue.

Mysterious eyes of a chameleon

Chameleons have a completely unique visual apparatus and extraordinary eyes: they are able to rotate 360 ​​degrees independently of each other and can focus on two objects at once.

The chameleon sees everything, everywhere. Are the eyes of a chameleon independent of each other, in other words, do they live a separate life? Israeli scientists asked this question. As a result of the experiments, it turned out that the reptile's eyes do not always move independently of each other, as previously thought, but are capable of focusing on one object. The reptile can watch two objects at the same time, but as soon as the chameleon chooses a target to shoot, both eyes focus on it. Scientists believe that such a vision device helps chameleons hunt more successfully and calculate the exact distance to the prey.

In arid and food-poor areas, every “miss” reduces the chances of survival. An important feature of the chameleon is accuracy: to examine the prey and estimate the distance to it. This is facilitated by the design of the eyes, which not only move independently of each other, but in addition, each eye can be used as an optical sight or a sighting tube that determines distance. The eye thus equipped accurately determines the distance to the victim by focusing the image. Most likely, this is due to the eye's accommodation of up to 45 diopters. To do this, lizards, in the process of evolution, improved the lens of the eye with the so-called scattering lens. Now it not only magnifies the image of the prey on the retina, but also provides a depth of field greater than that of vertebrates with conventional collective lenses.

Due to the fact that the reptile's eyes almost completely cover the fused eyelids, leaving only a small hole in the center for the pupil, they appear bulging and resemble telescopic tubes.

In general, the eyes are a problem area for chameleons. Most of the diseases in these animals are associated with the eyes. Due to the narrow palpebral fissure, eye infections are difficult to treat. They are very sensitive and often get injured. Therefore, there should be no sharp branches in the terrarium, otherwise the chameleon may damage its eyes.

The main attraction of a chameleon is its tail.

Looking at the chameleon to the tip of its tail, one cannot help but notice how beautifully it twists it into a spiral. Thick at the base and tapering towards the tip, the tail serves as the chameleon's fifth leg (or arm?). It can tightly wrap its tail around any object on which it sits. The tail supports the weight of the chameleon's body: the reptile can hang on tree branches, hooked on its spirally twisted tail.

Another unusual thing about chameleons is that they do not have ears, although these reptiles can perceive sounds at frequencies from 200 to 600 Hertz.

Whimsical chameleon dances

The chameleon's paws are also not quite ordinary. At first glance, it may seem that these reptiles are two-toed creatures. In fact, they have 5 fingers on each paw, but during evolution they have grown together in 2 and 3. Notice how tenacious and dexterous their paws are. They can even be compared to claws, with the help of which it is very convenient for the animal to move along the branches.

The movements of reptiles are peculiar. Slowly moving one front leg forward and strengthening it, the chameleon releases the end of the tail with which it was holding onto the branch. Which of the remaining limbs the animal will move after the first can only be guessed, since the reptile uses its paws out of any sequence. Sometimes, for example, both right paws move alternately, in other cases the front and back paws of opposite sides.

Sitting on a branch, the reptile freezes, while slowly rotating its eyes. Then the animal smoothly raises one hind and one front paw into the air and begins to swing rhythmically back and forth. Having taken a step and again frozen in place, the reptile raises another pair of legs and continues to swing. At the same time, the eyes also perform their “dance”, rotating up, down, forward and backward. The nature of such movements is not entirely clear, but scientists suggest that these are signal body movements intended for individuals of the same species to recognize each other.

It seems that the chameleon is a slow and clumsy animal, but this is just an appearance. Limited by the size of the terrarium, he cannot demonstrate how fast he can move.

In contact with

They seem too boring to you, but you are still not ready to have a crocodile and keep it in the bathroom, as some extreme sports enthusiasts do, there are great option- compact, safe and at the same time original: chameleon. It is quite easy to care for him, he eats little, does not require daily walks, and generally causes minimal hassle, so he is suitable for almost everyone.

Description and photos of popular species

First of all, you need to know that there are about two hundred different species these reptiles, but, unfortunately, the vast majority of them feel comfortable only in natural habitats, and, therefore, are completely unsuitable for keeping as “pets”.

There are only 3 main varieties of chameleons: Yemeni (also known as veiled or secretive), leopard (also known as panther or panther) and ordinary, for which it is quite possible to create tolerable conditions and provide the necessary care within the confines of one separate city apartment. Let's get to know each one better.

Yemeni

It's not the easiest of possible options breeding domestic reptiles, and its dimensions are impressive - males can reach 60 cm in length (females, however, are much smaller). But the external characteristics of this animal are simply fascinating: yellow spots and luxurious orange-brown transverse stripes along the bright green body, a long striped tail and - most importantly! - literally a royal crest on the head of a male.
Sometimes such a “crown” grows up to 8 cm in height. By this crest and small spurs on the hind legs, a “girl” can be easily distinguished from a “boy”.

By the way, it is believed that what brighter color in the Yemeni chameleon, the better it feels: from melancholy and improper care, the animals turn pale and become even darker.

Under natural conditions, this reptile can be found in the valleys and on the banks of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The Hawaiian Islands and American Florida also turned out to be suitable for them.

Important!Caught in the wild, such chameleons are unlikely to take root in your apartment: those individuals that are sold in pet stores are the result of long-term work aimed at “domesticating” the animal. They were born and raised in a terrarium, are accustomed to artificial keeping and do not suffer from being in captivity.

The main thing to consider when choosing a Yemen chameleon is terrarium dimensions(a reptile more than half a meter should be able to move freely in it). Another nuance: males of this breed usually do not get along with each other and can, especially in confined spaces, cause serious injuries to each other.
On the other hand, when alone, animals also feel unhappy and lose their external attractiveness. Therefore, if you want to admire the Yemeni chameleon in all its glory, it is best to have one male and several females, which, given the size of one animal, is, of course, not suitable for every apartment.

Did you know?It is interesting that if the average life expectancy of men is statistically less than that of women, then for chameleons everything is exactly the opposite: the female of the Yemeni species lives one and a half to two times less than the male. It turns out that laying eggs is very exhausting for this animal.

The popularity of Yemeni chameleons is largely due to the fact that they reproduce much faster than their relatives. However, unfortunately, due to forced close family ties (absolutely fresh blood far from natural environment it is quite difficult to obtain habitat for animals) the offspring are very often born defective and before mature age simply does not survive.
But there is good news: Such defects usually appear during the first 3 months of life. Therefore, if a lizard has outgrown this critical age, it has every chance of living to a happy old age (for males this is sometimes all 8 years of life).

Leopard

For beginners, this type of chameleon is more preferable. Firstly, they are less aggressive than the Yemeni ones, and, secondly, they are more resilient.

These lizards are also not so impressive in size, although they cannot be called very small: males are up to half a meter good conditions They may well grow (females are smaller - their limit is 30–35 cm in length). However, for a domestic chameleon of this species, the usual size is approximately 25 cm; such lizards weigh a maximum of 180 g.
The homeland of the leopard chameleon (if you hear the name “chameleon pardalis” - know that we're talking about specifically about the leopard or panther), as well as most other species of this reptile, - the island of Madagascar and some nearby islands of land in Indian Ocean. Natural conditions for this lizard are a lot of moisture and warmth.
In terms of brightness of color, pardalis are not inferior to their Yemeni relatives, and in this case there are many different variations, depending on where exactly the animal lived.

If the Yemen chameleon is characterized by transverse stripes on the body, then in the leopard chameleon they are distributed along the body and can have a variety of shades (sometimes it is literally a riot of incredible colors). However, such brightness is characteristic exclusively of males; females differ little from each other and look rather faded.

Important!Prepubescent chameleons of the boring gray, all the beauty begins to appear in the 10th month of life.

Pardalis is distinguished by its menacing-looking spikes that adorn its back from head to tail. Large scaly plates on the top of the head and on the sides visually make the animal larger and more massive.
Leopard chameleons live at home for about 4 years, and in the wild they rarely reach half this age.

Ordinary

This is the most accessible and understandable animal for us, since it is found, among other things, in Europe: Spain, Portugal, Sicily, Malta and Crete are the places where, if you look closely, you can see such a lizard on a tree branch.
In size and brightness of color, it is certainly inferior to its exotic relatives. So, in wildlife maximum size an ordinary chameleon does not exceed 30 cm, but in a terrarium they rarely grow larger 20 cm long. As for color, like all chameleons, it can vary depending on the habitat, but usually it is yellowish, green or brownish-brown.

Spots on the body are not always present at all; sometimes the animal has a completely smooth and uniform color.

Choice when purchasing

All 3 species described above, as mentioned, are more or less adapted to keeping at home, so the final choice depends only on your personal preferences and the size of the part of the room that you are willing to allocate for a terrarium. However, since we are talking about an exotic animal, remember a few rules to help you avoid making mistakes when purchasing:

1. The skin of a healthy lizard should not be dirty, uneven, and there should be no extraneous (asymmetrical) blisters, bumps, dark spots or other evidence of disease.
2. If you choose an animal in a pet store, where several specimens are presented, never take the brightest or the palest - the closer your choice is to the middle, the more likely it is that there are no problems with the animal (as we already said, chameleons have a peculiar coloring indicator of health and well-being; any deviations are primarily reflected in the color).
3. Check your reflexes: no chameleon is initially a tame animal. Therefore, if you pick it up, the normal reaction is dissatisfaction (aggression or fear). If a lizard tries to escape, attacks, bites, hisses, this is normal, but if it shows complete indifference, there is something wrong with it!
4. Examine the paws for injuries, tumors and other pathologies.
5. The tail of a healthy chameleon is strong, dense and lively, thick at the base, gradually becoming narrower towards the end. If you can see every bone, it means the lizard was not fed correctly.
6. The eyes should be open (if the seller tells you that the animal is sleeping, you can be sure that in fact it does not feel its best, because sleep is in daytime not typical for a chameleon). Sunken and cloudy eyes are also an indicator of the disease.
7. Another reason to refuse a purchase is the release of foam or saliva from the mouth (don’t believe that this is how it should be). The oral cavity, if you can see it, should look completely clean, there should be no traces of plaque or swelling, and the color should be uniform - pink or yellow.

You should also not purchase animals directly from unknown people, via the Internet or at a poultry market. It’s even worse trying to bring a pet back from an exotic trip.

The only acceptable place for such a purchase is a reputable pet store with a proven reputation. In such an establishment they will not only sell you a proven animal, but will also give you all the necessary advice on caring for it, and in addition, here you can purchase all the numerous additional equipment that you will need.

Conditions for keeping

If you want your lizard to live a long time, surprise your guests with its exotic coloring, and also (if you’re lucky!) become your friend, you will have to try to make at least a small corner of your house resemble an exotic forest in appearance, temperature and humidity .

Terrarium dimensions

The first thing you need to take care of is, of course, the terrarium. It must be spacious enough for the occupant, but it is believed that 200 l- this is the minimum volume required regardless of the type of chameleon. If you want to get a couple of reptiles, multiply this volume by 1.5, or better yet, by 2.

Since the reptile you have chosen lives mainly in trees, the dwelling should be as high as possible (vertical), preferably at least 0.8 m. The length and width can be 0.4 m or more.

In order to conveniently arrange and clean the terrarium, its internal space must be accessible. In principle, the problem is solved by removing the mesh covering the terrarium, but you can also order a container with a door that opens outward or glass that slides overlapping like a wardrobe. Another option is a completely folding front panel that can be locked with a lock.
The best material for a chameleon's home is glass. Sometimes organic glass is used, but it quickly scratches, acquiring a sloppy appearance, and in addition, it can melt when high temperatures(including from a lamp), and this is completely unacceptable. Modern terrariums are also made from acrylic and transparent plastic.

Important!You cannot make a terrarium for a chameleon from chipboard, since this material, when heated, releases toxic substances, which, if inhaled, can even kill the inhabitant of such a dwelling.

Also make sure that the mesh used in the terrarium is fine enough so that your pet’s “live food” does not get out, and, in addition, is made of durable material(for example, a cricket saving its life can easily gnaw through thin polyethylene).

Inside the “room” you need to create an imitation of a tropical forest. It is not at all necessary to use live plants for this, but natural driftwood is welcome. We cover the bottom of the terrarium with a special bedding, which will be recommended at the pet store. Ordinary sand or sawdust are not suitable for these purposes.

Temperature, lighting, humidity

The chameleon needs not only to create a comfortable temperature regime. It is important to ensure that the animal has the opportunity to decide for itself what temperature is best for it at any given moment. In other words, there should be different temperature conditions in different parts of the terrarium.

So, a reptile needs to have a place where it can warm up (this is 30–32 °C) and, on the contrary, to enjoy the coolness is at least 25 °C. Below this limit in the most warm places There should never be a terrarium, even at night. It is worth making sure that such “comfort zones” are located on the branches and not on the bottom of the terrarium, because chameleons in nature rarely descend to the ground.

Important!If the terrarium is heated with special lamps, take care that the animal does not get burned. The possibility of direct touch must be completely limited!

There are also special mats on sale that heat the bedding, similar to the principle of a warm floor in the house.
In deserts and tropics, the difference between day and night temperatures can be quite large; you need to try to recreate similar conditions in the artificial home of your ward.

To maintain health, the reptile needs sunlight, without it the synthesis of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) is impossible ) in his body. If possible, it is worth equipping the terrarium with a source of artificial ultraviolet lighting or periodically heating the pet with an ultraviolet lamp.

Humidity is another point that is very important for our pet.

Did you know? There is a version that a chameleon does not see water if it is not moving. Is it true or not- unknown, but natural conditions These reptiles satisfy their thirst by licking dew from the leaves, so it makes no sense to install drinking bowls in the terrarium, but it is necessary to provide “dew.”

Sometimes it is recommended to equip the lizard’s home with artificial fountain or waterfall, then droplets of water will fall on objects in the terrarium, and the reptile will quickly detect them. If such luxury cannot be created, inner part The terrarium needs to be sprayed regularly, at least 2 times a day. For this purpose, purified water should be used and be above room temperature. Too high humidity, however, is harmful to the chameleon, since it can cause various bacterial and fungal diseases. But dry air is also a problem, this time with the skin and eyes. It is optimal to maintain the humidity in the terrarium at 50%.

Finally, a necessary condition wellness A chameleon needs proper ventilation, because if the air stagnates, bacteria begin to actively develop in a confined space. For this purpose, terrariums usually have two ventilation holes - on the ceiling and at the bottom of the side wall.

This design ensures optimal air circulation due to the fact that warm air comes out through the ceiling, and its place is taken by a colder one drawn in from the outside of the terrarium (where it is usually much colder in a city apartment than inside).

How to care for a chameleon

Unfortunately, a reptile kept in an artificial terrarium cannot provide for itself, so the owner will have to shoulder the bulk of the worries about it.

Cleaning the terrarium

Cleanliness in the terrarium is the key to the health of the reptile. The feeder needs to be washed daily, it is also advisable to remove waste products of its inhabitant, as well as food debris, from the terrarium every day. But once a week you will have to carry out “general cleaning”, during which the bedding is completely changed, the container is disinfected, and the decorative items contained in it are washed from dust and dirt.
If you have not yet established contact with your ward and do not let him roam freely around the house, you need to get a spare container where you can put the animal while cleaning (however, some advise leaving the reptile in the “house” so as not to cause additional stress to it , but here everyone chooses the best option for themselves).

Important! It is better to wash plants and driftwood not inside the terrarium, but by first removing them, this way you will be able to avoid waterlogging of the microclimate in the middle.

Feeding

All chameleons are predators, and their hunting abilities can only be envied.
But if in nature chameleons feed mainly on crawling insects, then the question arises of what to feed such an animal at home. It is believed that the ideal nutritional value for this reptile is cricket. But more “prosaic” ones will also do. insects: flies, grasshoppers, locusts, cockroaches, mealworms, butterflies and dragonflies.

Some fanciers even recommend, armed with a net, going out into nature somewhere in the warm season and getting food for your pet for the week ahead. And if you have a summer house and you don’t know how to get rid of cockchafers, you can combine business with pleasure. Perhaps such options will seem suitable to some, but not to everyone, that’s for sure.

Important!Insects that are given to a chameleon as food must be alive, otherwise he simply will not see them. Such live food is poured into a special feeder, and to prevent its contents from scattering, the sides are generously lubricated with oil. The chameleon determines the amount of food itself; the human task is to provide it in abundance.

Nevertheless, it is better to buy food for your charges at a pet store (this way, among other things, you do not risk poisoning the reptile, because the living creatures flying around us are covered industrial waste, toxins, city dust, or even was subjected to targeted treatment with pesticides, like the same field pests). At a young age, chameleons need to add special food to their food. vitamin powders for reptiles, as well as essential minerals (for example, calcium phosphate), which are sold in specialized pet stores.

As a special treat, you can offer your reptile finely chopped fruits and green leaves. However, in order not to poison the lizard, you should definitely make sure that a particular plant is safe.

And in the warm season, you can arrange natural grazing for your pet: take the terrarium out into the open air in a cage with a wide mesh (some generally plant reptiles in a free enclosure), where insects can fly. Place appropriate bait for “live food” in the cage, and your chameleon can hunt to its heart’s content!

Did you know?This reptile's vision is structured in a completely unique way: each of its 2 eyes can look around the surrounding space completely independently of the other. Two such mobile and sensitive devices literally scan the surrounding space, and potential prey does not have the slightest chance of hiding from them. The reptile captures a gaping insect with a lightning-fast movement of its long and very flexible tongue.

Water balance

We have already mentioned above the mandatory spraying of the inside of the terrarium if it does not have its “own” source of water - a fountain or other device. This procedure is necessary not only to quench the reptile’s thirst, but also to maintain its water balance. Dry air very quickly leads to dehydration of the lizard's body, which is especially dangerous for young individuals.

Features of handling a pet

Firstly, as already mentioned, chameleons don't drink from drinking bowls. Sometimes it is difficult for an animal, especially a young one or one that has found itself in new conditions, to figure out how to get water to quench its thirst. In this case, at first you need to inject water into the reptile’s mouth (sometimes you even have to provoke it to attack). A more peaceful option is a pipette or a disposable syringe without a needle.

In the same way, by the way, you can pamper your pet with fruit or vegetable juice or honey diluted in water. But don't overdo it - give a few drops first and watch the reaction.

Secondly, one should take into account the rather aggressive disposition of these reptiles, which they often demonstrate not so much towards humans as towards each other. Therefore, when buying several reptiles, you should always consider the possibility of dividing the terrarium into separate sections or at least creating the most dense “vegetation” inside in order to minimize contacts between the inhabitants.

Did you know?A chameleon at home is usually a permanent inhabitant of a terrarium, which owners and guests admire from afar. But with some patience and skill, this animal can become tame.

Experts recommend starting with trying hand feed a reptile, but at the same time the hand for a long time must play the role of a “branch”, that is, remain as motionless as possible, otherwise the animal will simply get scared. In the end, if your pet has a fairly docile character, and you have Olympian patience, he will climb onto your hand as if on command.

Actually, to begin with, this is all you need to know about chameleons as pets. As a result, we can say that the option is certainly not an easy one. Reptiles are very sensitive to microclimate and cleanliness, require a lot of space for a terrarium, have little contact and certainly will not purr on your lap like a domestic one.

And just the sight of what is food for such a pet makes many people shudder. But still, these reptiles have many connoisseurs and admirers, who are not repelled or frightened by all the mentioned difficulties. After all, everything that is created by nature is truly perfect!

The chameleon is considered one of the most amazing inhabitants of our planet. He is able not only to change his color, but also to look in two directions at the same time. Therefore, there is nothing strange in the fact that many people are interested in what chameleons look like and where they live. In which country you can find these creatures, you will learn from today’s article.

Habitat

They inhabit steppes, savannas, deserts and tropical forests. Their main habitats are considered to be Sri Lanka, South India, the Middle East and North Africa. Those who want to understand where chameleons live will be interested to know that they are often found in Hawaii and the United States.

Many of them live in trees. But some species of African reptiles that live in dig holes in sand dunes and hide in them from cold and heat.

Appearance

Having figured out where chameleons live in nature, you need to understand what these creatures look like. The skin of these reptiles, belonging to the lizard family, has two pigment layers. This is what explains their ability to change their color.

The wide body of these amazing animals is covered with small scales, and on the rather narrow head there are small tubercles, horns or a crest. Usually, similar formations are present in males.

Those who want to understand where chameleons live in Tunisia will be interested to learn about another feature of tree lizards. Their eyes are almost completely closed by fused eyelids, on which there are only small holes for the pupils. In addition, these reptiles have a very long tongue. They are able to throw it out of their mouth at a distance exceeding the size of their body. On the paws of animals there are two or three fused toes, directed in opposite directions. Such claw-like limbs allow chameleons to easily move through trees.

As for the sizes, they depend on the type of reptile. So, the length of some of them does not exceed thirty millimeters, while others grow up to sixty centimeters. These creatures also have a prehensile tail, with which they grab and hold objects.

Features of behavior

For those who already understand where chameleons live, it will not hurt to know that they like to gather in small groups consisting of six individuals. Having looked for a convenient branch, they cling to it with their paws and tail. Reptiles can spend about twenty-four hours in this position. Only a truly worthwhile task can force them to leave a convenient branch located at a decent height from the surface of the earth.

Having figured out where chameleons live, it would not be superfluous to mention that among all the inactive animals, they are the only ones capable of sitting in one place for hours, and sometimes days, waiting for prey to approach. They feed on locusts, grasshoppers, crickets and other insects. The diet of larger individuals is a little more varied. They feast on birds and small lizards.

How do these reptiles reproduce?

The mating period depends on the time of year and habitat. At the height of the mating season, males become very aggressive. They organize real tournaments, the winners of which receive the right to become the head of a “harem” in their area. They turn bright warlike colors, puff up and hiss at each other. Males butt each other with processes located on the head and bite rivals.

Having understood where chameleons live, you need to figure out exactly how they reproduce. It's interesting that they can do this several times different ways. But representatives of most species prefer reproduction, which is usual for reptiles. At one time, the female can lay from fifteen to eighty eggs. She then buries them deep in the ground or hangs them on a tree branch. Duration incubation period up to ten months.

Some species of chameleons are viviparous. Such reptiles give birth to up to fourteen babies, for which a kind of “nursery” is built. The cubs are glued directly to tree branches with mucus and nursed for a certain period.

Some species of these animals are capable of parthenogenesis. Females lay unfertilized eggs without the participation of males. Subsequently, full-fledged viable cubs hatch from them.

Chameleons are one of the strangest and most unusual creatures on earth. The name comes from the Latin "chamaelon" which means "lion of the earth". One of them unusual abilities- change your color. Introducing Interesting Facts about chameleons.

Habitat

Despite the fact that chameleons are not found in Russia, they are quite common reptiles. They live in African deserts, tropics, savannah, southern Europe, southern India, there are small populations in Hawaii, California and Florida.

These funny animals, like any cold-blooded creatures, prefer warmth. They are most often found in Madagascar, where most of the 200 species known to us live. The most interesting Madagascar species is the most little chameleon, which is also the smallest vertebrate animal, its length does not exceed one and a half centimeters.

This is often not helped by its color camouflage - their population is declining due to deforestation. Currently, 10 species are threatened with extinction, and 20 may disappear in the near future.

Appearance

Chameleon - interesting facts about appearance. The largest species is considered the Parson's chameleon, its maximum size is 75 centimeters. Smallest view- a leafy chameleon, it can easily fit on the tip of a finger, its maximum size is one and a half centimeters. This species is also considered the smallest vertebrate.

Chameleons change their color for camouflage, temperature regulation, and expression of emotions; color also depends on health and lighting. Typically, chameleons can change color from brown to green, but there are species that can turn other colors. The color change occurs in 15 seconds.

The long tail, when at rest, curls like a watch spring. A chameleon cannot restore its lost tail.

A chameleon's eyes can move independently of each other, they are sensitive to ultraviolet light, and when exposed to ultraviolet light they become more active.

The length of the tongue is amazing; it is 2 times the length of the chameleon’s body. When hunting prey, these predators can fire their tongues at high speed. The prey is attached to the tongue and moves at high speed into the predator's mouth. When a chameleon catches prey with its tongue, it closes its eyes so as not to damage them with rapidly rushing food.

Males are usually brighter in color and have horny projections or large ridges on their heads.

The American chameleon is not a species of chameleon, it is a common iguana and is also capable of changing color.

When a chameleon is scared, it swells and increases in size.

Cannot control color changes during sleep. Chameleons change color due to special cells - chromatophores, they contain the necessary pigment.

Features of the body

Visual abilities - the chameleon's viewing angle is 360 degrees, it can look in two opposite directions.

Diet of chameleons. Chameleons usually feed on insects, but larger ones may eat a bird or lizard. Chameleons are bad parents; after birth they leave offspring, and the cubs learn to live and survive on their own.

Chameleons do not have ears, or rather they do not have a middle and outer ear, but they hear everything.

Chameleon saliva is 500 times more viscous than human saliva. Probably, this property helps to “glue” insects caught by a predator to the tongue.

The average life expectancy in nature is about 4 years. In captivity they can live up to 10 years.

Chameleons are lizards that lay eggs. But there are also viviparous species; they give birth to small babies in special pouches.

Typically eggs take about two months to incubate, but for Parson's chameleon, it can take up to two years. Parson's chameleons can live up to 20 years.

Scientists have still not been able to figure out why chameleons sway when moving, but many believe that this is how they disguise themselves as branches swaying in the wind.

The chameleon climbs trees well, its legs are well adapted for this.

Chameleons are often kept as pets. We must not forget, no matter how well cared for, this is not a dog that becomes attached to a person. The place of wild animals is in nature. At home, although comfortable conditions, they suffer because they lack freedom, communication with fellow humans, and a cage, even though it is golden, still remains a cage.

Chameleons are widely known for their unique ability among land animals to change skin color; they even got their name from the name of a mythical creature capable of changing appearance - the Chameleon. These animals form a separate family in the suborder Squamate, their closest relatives are iguanas and agamas. There are 85 known species of chameleons.

Panther chameleon.

The body length of most chameleons is 20-30 cm, the largest species - the Ostaleti chameleon - reaches a length of 50-60 cm, and the tiniest chameleon is considered to be Brookesia minor, whose body length barely reaches 3.5-4.5 cm.

African dwarf chameleon (Rhampholeon temporalis).

Although chameleons are systematically close to lizards, they have so many unique structural features that they bear little resemblance even to closely related species.

The body of chameleons is flattened from the sides, the back is noticeably arched and decorated with a crest, which is why chameleons give the impression of being eternally hunched over.

Their head is even more intricately decorated: in some species it is crowned with a crest, in others there are outgrowths on the muzzle resembling horns, in others the occipital outgrowths give the head the shape of a helmet. True, such decorations are clearly visible only in males; in females they are weakly expressed.

Jackson's chameleon (Chamaeleo jacksonii).

The eyelids of chameleons are tightly fused and close their eyes almost completely, leaving only a small hole in the center for the pupil, which makes the eyes of these animals seem bulging. Chameleons rotate them like telescopic tubes in all directions (360° viewing angle), moreover, the rotation of the eyes can be carried out independently of each other. This eye structure allows chameleons to focus on small moving objects with the highest accuracy. But chameleons, like snakes, do not have ears. However, they perceive sounds with a frequency of 200-600 Hz.

Eye of Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii).

Another hunting device is its unusual tongue. In chameleons it can reach the length of the body; the tongue has the shape of a stalk with an extension at the end. Insects stick to this “spoon,” which the chameleon pulls into the oral cavity along with its tongue.

The tail of most chameleons is long and, when at rest, curled into a characteristic spiral.

Only a few small species have very short, stubby tails that cannot curl. This bizarre portrait is completed by the unusual structure of the paws. Chameleons have five-fingered fingers, with the toes located perpendicular to the axis of the limb and opposed to each other: on the front paws, two toes are directed outward, and three inward, and on the hind paws, vice versa. Chameleons have rough skin, with individual sharp scales forming ridges and serrations on the chin, neck and back.

Chameleons' feet are ideal grasping tools, allowing them to hold onto thin branches.

It is believed that chameleons can change color randomly to match the color environment. This statement is only partly true. In fact, each type of chameleon has its own specific color, which varies relatively little in normal conditions. Among chameleons there are solidly colored, spotted and striped species. Natural coloring can be very inconspicuous (brown, gray) or bright (green, greenish-blue); in variegated species, certain parts of the body can be orange or red.

Male Yemen chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) in natural coloring.

The color is due to the presence of special pigmented cells in the skin - chromatophores. They have a branched shape and can change their size (shrink, expand). When chromatophores of one color contract, others expand at the same time, thus the area of ​​body parts different color may change. Each type of chameleon can change color only within the range of colors given to it by nature. For example, a brown chameleon can darken to almost black or fade to almost white, but it cannot turn blue or striped, and conversely, a striped chameleon will show subtle stripes with any change in color. Despite such limitations, chameleons' ability to transform is amazing. Typically, chameleons only slightly change the shade of their natural coloring, adjusting it in accordance with the environment, but when “overwhelmed” by strong feelings they can radically transform. A frightened chameleon often turns pale, while an aggressive one can darken to black or become covered with a bright pattern.

The female Yemen chameleon does not have a "helmet". On the body of the actively “greening” female, traces of the original “calm” coloring are visible - small specks and very pale stripes.

Chameleons are residents warm countries. Center species diversity is Madagascar, where many endemic and rare species, not found outside its borders, many chameleons also live in Africa. Outside this region, chameleons can only be found in India, Sri Lanka, the Middle East and Southern Europe (1-2 species each). Most chameleons live in tropical rainforests and stay in the canopy; some African chameleons are terrestrial and live on the forest floor or burrow in the desert. Chameleons are settled, they occupy small area, which is protected from neighbors. Males allow females into their area, but drive away other males. Chameleons move very slowly; they slowly clasp branches with their paws, often swaying back and forth; sometimes they freeze on branches motionless for a long time.

Chameleons move clumsily on land and cannot swim at all.

Chameleons feed on insects (ants, butterflies, caterpillars, mantises, crickets), worms, snails, large species can sometimes eat small birds and lizards. Their diet may occasionally include shoots and buds of plants. Chameleons first stalk their prey from ambush, rotating their eyes in all directions, then slowly creep up to it, at the last moment pointing both eyes at it, and then throw out their tongue at a speed of 0.04-0.05 s! The tearing force can reach 50 g, more heavy prey the chameleon grabs with its jaws.

The victim is glued to the tongue thanks to sticky saliva and a notch at the end that creates a vacuum effect (suction cup principle).

Chameleon mating fights come down to psychological warfare. Having met, the males are covered with very bright, quickly changing war paint, open their mouths, hiss loudly, in a word, in every possible way they frighten the opponent. Often, after watching such a “movie,” the weaker opponent takes to his heels. If this does not happen, then the chameleons begin to butt with horns and bite, but do not injure each other. Females of some species have special seminal receptacles in which sperm can be stored for a long time, therefore, having mated once, the female can bear offspring several times. Females lay 4-80 small eggs covered with a parchment shell. To do this, they descend to the ground and dig a hole.

A female chameleon can spend several days digging a hole.

Two-striped and motley chameleons are ovoviviparous: after 5-7 months of pregnancy, they lay eggs in a transparent sticky shell on the surface of the leaves and chameleons immediately hatch from them. Chameleon eggs do not begin to develop immediately; at first they are in a “sleeping” state and only then does the development of the embryo begin. That's why total duration Incubation is huge - 3-12 months! Newborn chameleons are fully developed, independent, and grow rapidly, reaching adult size in about a year.

The bizarre Labordi chameleon (Furcifer labordi) spends 8 months of its life in an egg, and dies 4-5 months after birth. This is one of the shortest living species.

Chameleons have neither sharp teeth nor poison, so they are attractive prey for many predators (snakes, birds). Interestingly, Smith's dwarf chameleon uses different patterns of camouflage coloration in relation to different predators- birds that distinguish colors, and snakes that do not have color vision.

Ostaleti's chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti) demonstrates perfect camouflage.

Due to relatively low fertility and limited range, many chameleon species have become rare. The chameleons of Madagascar are especially in need of protection; many Madagascan species are listed in the Red Book. At the same time, chameleons are often kept in home terrariums as unpretentious and very attractive pets.

The panther chameleon is one of the favorite inhabitants of home terrariums.