Veiled chameleon

Reptiles and amphibians

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Identity card

Veiled chameleon

Scientific name:: Chamaeleo calyptratus

Family:: Chamaeleonidae

Class:: Reptilia

Phylum:: Chordata

Year of description:: Duméril, 1851

IUCN Status:: Least Concern

CITES-status:: Appendix II

Distribution:: Highlands of Yemen and southern Saudi Arabia. It has been introduced into Florida.

Habitat:: It is found mainly in warm forests.

Size:: Males measure 50-55 cm, whereas females measure 30-40 cm.

Diet:: It is omnivorous, although it feeds mainly on insects.

The veiled chameleon is one of the few chameleons that demands plants in its diet!

It loves dandelions, as well as the plants that decorate its terrarium.

did you know?

Where is the animal to be found?

The veiled chameleon lives in an environment with a significant temperature variation. It is mainly found in warm forests, in the highlands of Yemen and southern Saudi Arabia. It has been introduced into Florida.

How can it be recognised?

The chameleon Chamaeleo calyptratus is recognised by a casque on its head, which is twice as large in males. This helmet is said to collect moisture from the morning dew. The male is also characterised by the presence of spurs on the hind legs.

It is a territorial animal that can be aggressive, especially between males. Males measure 50-55 cm, whereas females measure 30-40 cm.

What is distinctive about it?

The Yemeni veiled chameleon - Chamaeleo calyptratus has several distinctive features.

Its skin changes colour in response to its emotions and the temperature.
Its tongue, which is as long as its body, can deploy at a speed of 22km/h.
Its eyes can move in all directions and independently of each other, allowing it to see through 360°.