African chameleon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African chameleon |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chamaeleo
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| Species: |
africanus
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| Synonyms | |
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Sahel Chameleon |
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The African chameleon, also called the Sahel chameleon, is a cool type of chameleon. Its scientific name is Chamaeleo africanus. These amazing reptiles live naturally in areas like the Sahel and the Nile Valley. You can also find them in Greece, where they were brought by people. An average African chameleon can grow to about 34 centimeters (13 inches) long. This measurement includes its tail.
Where Do African Chameleons Live?
The African chameleon lives in many parts of the Sahel. This is a large area in Africa. You can find them from countries like Mali and Mauritania all the way to Sudan.
Their home also stretches north along the Nile River into Egypt. Some people think they might have been brought to Egypt by humans. From Egypt, these chameleons were then taken to the Peloponnese in Greece. They like to live in dry grasslands, which are called savannas.
What Does an African Chameleon Look Like?
The African chameleon is a slow-moving lizard. It has a flat body from side to side. It can grow up to 46 centimeters (18 inches) long. That's pretty big for a chameleon!
One of the coolest things about chameleons is their eyes. They have big, round eyes that can move separately. This means one eye can look forward while the other looks backward! They also have a tail that can grab onto things. This is called a prehensile tail.
African chameleons look a lot like the common chameleon. But African chameleons are bigger. They also don't have skin flaps at the back of their heads. They are often green with many black spots. Like other chameleons, they can change their color. This helps them hide from predators or show how they are feeling. They have a large, bony helmet-like structure on their head. This is called a casque. They also have long legs. Male chameleons have small bumps on their ankles called tarsal spurs.
How Do African Chameleons Behave?
African chameleons usually hang out on the lower branches of trees. You can also find them on bushes and tall reeds. They use their special feet to hold on tight. Their feet have two toes on one side and two on the other. They also use their tail to grip branches.
They often stay very still. Or they move super slowly and carefully. This helps them sneak up on their food. They mainly eat insects. They catch insects by quickly shooting out their long, sticky tongue. Their tongue has a sticky tip. It can grab the insect in a flash! Sometimes, they might even eat small lizards or baby birds.
When it's time to lay eggs, the female chameleon goes down to the ground. She digs a nest underground. She can lay up to 70 eggs at once! The eggs take about three months to hatch. The baby chameleons then take a year or more to grow up.
