Chamaeleo

Chamaeleo
Chamaeleo calyptratus, veiled chameleon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Lacertilia
Infraorder:	Iguania
Family:	Chamaeleonidae
Subfamily:	Chamaeleoninae
Genus:	Chamaeleo Linnaeus, 1758

Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis)

Chamaeleo is a genus of chameleons found primarily in the mainland of sub-saharan Africa, but a few species are also present in northern Africa, southern Europe and southern Asia east to India and Sri Lanka.

Description

They are slow moving with independently movable eyes, the ability to change skin colouration, long tongue, prehensile tail, and special leg adaptations for grasping vegetation. Males are generally larger and more colorful than females. Almost all species have a maximum snout-vent length (SVL) between 15 and 40 centimetres (5.9 and 15.7 in).

Behavior

The vast majority are arboreal and typically found in trees or bushes, but a few species (notably the Namaqua Chameleon) are partially or largely terrestrial.

Reproduction

The genus includes only oviparous species.

In captivity

With few exceptions, the chameleons most commonly seen in captivity are all members of Chamaeleo, notably the common, Senegal and veiled chameleons, but even they require special care.

Taxonomy

Chamaeleo is the type genus of the family Chamaeleonidae.

All other genera of the subfamily Chamaeleoninae (Bradypodion, Calumma, Furcifer, Kinyongia, Nadzikambia and Trioceros) have at some point been included in the genus Chamaeleo, but are now regarded as separate by virtually all authorities.

Species

• African chameleon, C. africanus
• Angola double-scaled chameleon, Chamaeleo anchietae
• Arabian chameleon, C. arabicus
• Awash spurless chameleon, Chamaeleo calcaricarens
• Veiled chameleon, C. calyptratus
  • Veiled chameleon, C. c. calyptratus
  • Short-casqued veiled chameleon, C. c. calcarifer
• Common chameleon, C. chamaeleon
  • European common chameleon, C. c. chamaeleon
  • Sinai Peninsula common chameleon, C. c. musae
  • Arabian common chameleon, C. c. orientalis
  • Middle East common chameleon, C. c. rectricrista
• Flap-necked chameleon, C. dilepis
  • Flap-necked chameleon, C. d. dilepis
  • Idjwi Island flap-necked chameleon, C. d. idjwiensis
  • Isabelline flap-necked chameleon, C. d. isabellinus
  • Pemba Island flap-necked chameleon, C. d. martensi
  • Peters' flap-necked chameleon, C. d. petersii
• Etienne's slender chameleon, Chamaeleo etiennei
• Graceful chameleon, Chamaeleo gracilis
• Smooth chameleon, Chamaeleo laevigatus
• Socotran chameleon, C. monachus
• Namaqua chameleon C. namaquensis
• Necas' flap-necked chameleon, Chamaeleo necasi
• Quilo River flap-necked (or Bocage's) chameleon, Chamaeleo quilensis
• Ruspoli's Ogaden flap-necked chameleon, Chamaeleo ruspolii
• Senegal chameleon, C. senegalensis
• Indian chameleon, C. zeylanicus

Further reading

• Spawls, S.; Drewes, R.; Ashe, J. (2002). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa. Köln: Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-656470-1.

External links

• http://www.chameleoninfo.com/Species_Profiles.html