Monday, 9 October 2017

LIFE OF A "KAMELEON";

Chameleons or Chamaeleons ( family Chamaeleonidae ) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of old world lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015.
These species come in a range of colors, and many species have the ability to change color.
Chameleons are distinguished by their zygoctaclylous feet;
                                                                                                                                        their very extensive, highly modified, rapidly extricable tongues;
                                                                                                                                      their swaying gait;
                          and crests or horns on their brow and snout.
Most species, the larger ones in particular, also have a prehensileteul.
Chameleons eyes are independently mobile, but in aiming at a prey item, they focus forward in coordination, affording the animal stereoscopic vision.
Chameleons are adapted for climbing and visual hunting.
They live in warm habitat that range from rainforest to desert conditions, with various species occurring in Africa, Madagascar, southern Europe, and across southern Asia as far as Sri Lanka.
They also have been introduced to Hawaii, California, and Florida, and often are kept as household pets.
Some chameleon species are able to change their skin coloration.
Different chameleon species are able to vary their coloration and pattern trough combinations of pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown, light blue, yellow, turquoise, and purple.
Chameleon skin has a superficial layer which contains pigments, and under the layer are cells with guanine crystals.
Chameleons change color by changing the space between he guanine crystal, which changes the wavelength of light reflected off the crystals which changes the color of the skin.
Some species, such as Smith's dwarf chameleon, adjust their colors for camouflage in accordance with the vision of the specific predator species such like ( birds or snake ) by which they are being threatened.
Chameleons inhabit all kinds of tropical and mountain rainforest, savannas, and sometimes deserts and steppes.
The typical chameleons from the subfamily Chamaeleoninae are arboreal, usually a few ( notably the Managua chameleon ).
Most species from the subfamily Brookesiinae, which includes the genera Brookesia, Rieppeleon, and Rhampholeon, live low in vegetation or on the ground among leaf litter.
Many species of chameleons are threatened by extinction.
Declining chameleon numbers are due to pollution and deforestation.

 
   
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                            

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