Spiny Chameleon or Crocodile Chameleon

DESCRIPTION

Head with a ridge in the shape of a helmet, formed by scales. A small ridge runs between the eyes and the end of the mouth, with other smaller ridges running along the sides from the throat and along the belly. Both sexes have a row of large scales forming a lateral line. Its tail is prehensile and forked at the end, characteristics which allow excellent climbing skills. Their tongues are retractable and used for hunting. Their dome shaped eyes, on each side of the head, move independently. When one of the eyes detects prey, the head turns to allow both eyes to focus on it.

ETHOLOGY

They are diurnal, solitary and land-based. Their most common colour is grey or brown, with various spots and stripes, and intermittent white along each side. The females usually have a single colour and the males are usually coloured green on the belly, tail and limbs. The females lay between 30 and 60 eggs per year, and do not incubate the eggs, which take 200 days to hatch. The young chameleons need between 6 months and 1 year to become adults.

CURIOSITIES

They can live in degraded and anthropogenic areas, including coastal areas, without necessarily requiring unspoilt forest.
In high temperatures, they take refuge in burrows in the sand to keep cool. Contrary to popular belief, chameleons do not change colour to camouflage themselves. A red background does not mean that the chameleon will turn red. The change of colour in chameleons is a result of their need for exposure to sunlight and their emotional state.