How many chameleons are in the world

It was a very exciting place to be at Although they were able to hire locals to serve as porters for their scientific equipment and supplies, he and the other scientists still ended up having to walk for several days to reach the reserve. We were crossing a river in the western part of the island.

The canoe had this strange flat front, and it created a funny wake in the water. So I asked the guide why it was like that. He tells me that the front had been bitten off by a crocodile. Surveying by satellite. Land Life. EO Explorer. At the time of publication, it represented the best available science. Subscribe to our newsletters. The Cradle of Chameleons Since , Raxworthy has been exploring Madagascar, documenting and describing its reptiles and amphibians. Meller's distinguish themselves from their universally bizarre-looking cousins with a single small horn protruding from the front of their snouts.

This and their size earn them the common name "giant one-horned chameleon. They are fairly common in the savanna of East Africa, including Malawi, northern Mozambique, and Tanzania. As with all chameleons, Meller's will change colors in response to stress and to communicate with other chameleons. Their normal appearance is deep green with yellow stripes and random black spots. Females are slightly smaller, but are otherwise indistinguishable from males.

They subsist on insects and small birds, using their camouflage and a lightning-fast, catapulting tongue, which can be up to 20 inches long, to ambush prey. Exotic pet enthusiasts often attempt to keep Meller's chameleons as pets. However, they are highly susceptible to even the slightest level of stress and are very difficult to care for in captivity. In the wild, they can live as long as 12 years. All rights reserved.

Common Name: Meller's Chameleon. Scientific Name: Trioceros melleri. Type: Reptiles. Diet: Carnivore. Size: 21 inches.

This eye-popping reptile really knows how to scale up the cool factor. All rights reserved. Personality Quizzes. Funny Fill-In. Amazing Animals. Weird But True! Party Animals. Try This! Explore More. Chameleons change colors to attract mates, regulate body temperature, or tell intruders to stay away. Common Name: Meller's Chameleon. Scientific Name: Trioceros melleri. Type: Reptiles.