Warty chameleon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Furcifer verrucosus |
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| male, Arboretum d'Antsokay | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Chamaeleonidae |
| Genus: | Furcifer |
| Species: |
F. verrucosus
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| Binomial name | |
| Furcifer verrucosus (Cuvier, 1829)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Furcifer verrucosus, also known as the warty chameleon, spiny chameleon, or crocodile chameleon, is a special kind of reptile. It lives only on the island of Madagascar. A scientist named Georges Cuvier first described it in 1829.
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About the Warty Chameleon
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the warty chameleon. One is called Furcifer v. verrucosus. The other is Furcifer v. semicristatus, which mostly lives in the southern part of Madagascar.
This chameleon is very similar to Oustalet's chameleon, also known as the Malagasy giant chameleon. Scientists think these two chameleons are like "sister species." This means they came from a common ancestor a long time ago.
What Does It Look Like?
The warty chameleon is a large lizard. Males can grow up to 56 centimeters (about 22 inches) long. Females are smaller, reaching about 21 centimeters (about 8 inches).
On its head, it has a helmet-like shape called a casque. This is made from its scales. A small ridge runs from its eyes to its nose. It also has low ridges along its sides, throat, and belly.
Males have a unique crest of up to forty small spines, about 4 millimeters long, running down their back. In females, this crest is shorter and turns into small bumps. Both males and females have a line of large scales along their sides. Their long tail can grip things, like branches.
The warty chameleon is usually grey or brown. It might have blotches or faint stripes. A white line often runs along each side. Females are usually lighter in color. Males often have a green tint on their belly, tail, and legs.
Where Do Warty Chameleons Live?
The warty chameleon lives only on the island of Madagascar. You can find it in many parts of the western and drier southern areas of the island.
It usually avoids thick rainforests. Instead, it prefers dry areas where the land has been changed, even near the sea. This chameleon often walks on the ground but also climbs in low bushes. When it gets very hot, it might dig into a sandy burrow to stay cool.
Both types of warty chameleons are protected by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). This means they are safe from illegal animal trading around the world.
Life Cycle of the Warty Chameleon
The warty chameleon mostly eats insects. It catches them with its long, sticky tongue.
Female chameleons lay one group of eggs each year. They can lay between 30 and 60 eggs at a time. These eggs stay in the ground for about 200 days before hatching. When the baby chameleons hatch, they are very small. It takes them about six months to a year to grow up and become adults.
 | Laphonza Butler |
 | Daisy Bates |
 | Elizabeth Piper Ensley |
