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CHAMELEONIDAE - South Indian HerpetofaunaCHAMELEONIDAE - South Indian Herpetofauna


Chameleons can be very easily identified by the presence of warty skin, prehensile tail, compressed body, nuchal crest, and zygodactylic feet, all of which give them a very unique appearance, unlike other lizards. They are more inclined to live and forage on trees and shrubs and do not venture freely onto land. The chameleons are rather comparatively heavy and slow moving. Therefore they have developed some anti-predatory defense mechanisms. The best known of all is its phenomenal ability to change its colour to suit the background. This special mechanism is to defend itself from would-be predators. Their foraging mechanism is also very unique, with a long sticky tongue, it snatches its insect prey at lightning speed. This species is oviparous and the eggs are laid in a hole dug in the soil by the female. The hole is then covered and the area is indiscernible from the surrounding. Only one species is distributed in the region.

Chameleo zeylanicus LAURENTI, 1768




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Latest page update: made by snakeranglerr , Aug 18 2009, 6:32 AM EDT (about this update About This Update snakeranglerr Edited by snakeranglerr

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