Quick Facts
- Type
- Reptile
- Size
- Males 40–52 cm including tail
- Weight
- 100–180 g
- Habitat
- Coastal forests and scrub of Madagascar
- Diet
- Insects and other small invertebrates
- Active Time
- Active by day (diurnal)
- Lifespan
- 2–7 years (males longer)
Field Notes
- Males come in different color forms depending on which part of Madagascar they live in.
- Chameleons change color to communicate and control temperature, not just to hide.
- Its tongue can launch out faster than the eye can follow to snag prey.
About the Panther Chameleon
The panther chameleon is a large, vividly colored lizard native to the warm coastal regions of Madagascar. Males are spectacularly bright, and their dominant color varies by region, from electric blue to red, green, or orange, while females stay more muted. Chameleons change color mainly to signal mood and to regulate temperature rather than simply to match their backgrounds. Like its relatives, it has independently swiveling eyes, gripping pincer-like feet, a coiling tail, and a long projectile tongue that it fires out to catch insects with deadly accuracy.
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