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Indian Chameleon

Chamaeleon zeylanicus

Photo by rivu.ghorai
Published on Project Noah
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21.6708, 87.588

Field Notes

Description:

A laterally compressed arboreal lizard, with a conical casque on top of the head. Body covered with granular scales. Eyes large and except for a small aperture for the pupil, covered with granular, scaled lid.

Habitat:

It is arboreal and prefers wooded area but uncommon in heavy rainfall areas.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (11)
ClaudiaRamirez
Thanks !!! Dan and Rivu very useful information, I love reptiles, and chameleons are one of my favorites, everyday I can learn something new about them :) Regards !! PS. Great Picture by the way
Ashish
These reptiles are very cool and wise to get rid of who want to follow them, quickly changes colours..!!
rivu.ghorai
yes dan is right.. this is the only species of chameleon found in india, pakistan, sri lanka.. to know more about it follow this link http://rivughorai.blogspot.com/2010/08/surprised-visitor-indian-chameleon.html
Dan Doucette
Actually this species is found in northern Sri Lanka and eastern Pakistan also. It is the only chameleon in these areas. From wiki -The approximately 160 species of chameleon range from Africa, Madagascar, Spain and Portugal, across south Asia, to Sri Lanka, have been introduced to Hawaii, California and Florida, and are found in warm habitats that vary from rain forest to desert conditions.
ClaudiaRamirez
I have no idea that Chameleons live outside of Madagascar, Is it endemic ?

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Photographed
PublishedMay 25, 2011

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