April 21, 2023

Chameleons are the most remarkable and amazing creatures. Here’s why

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Lidya Gasper in Mtae, Tanzania

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Picture by: Lidya Gasper

I think chameleons are the most remarkable animals and are extremely captivating lizards.

They have the amazing ability to alter their appearance in order to survive in different habitats. Chameleons mostly live in a variety of habitats from deserts to rainforests since they have adaptable traits like colour changing.

These impressive creatures can adjust their colour to the temperature and light conditions of their environment, helping them regulate their body heat and mood. Most chameleons also change colour in different dangerous places or when they need to escape their enemies.

 

Chameleon’s natural habitats are large and leafy spaces, which leaves a lot of places for predators to hide. They are preyed upon by a variety of other animals but birds and snakes are the most common predators of adult chameleons.

Chameleons generally eat insects, but larger species, such as the common chameleon, may also sometimes eat younger lizards and birds. Chameleons also lay eggs, this takes place three to six weeks after copulation.

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  • Picture by: Lidya Gasper

  • Chameleons are one of the most diverse and complex animals, with over 200 species and a range of adaptations.

    They feed themselves using their long tongue from their mouths to capture prey located some distance away. Chameleon tongues can reach speeds of 60mph in just 1/100th of a second giving them one of the fastest tongues in the animal kingdom.

    Chameleons themselves, however, are slow-moving lizards, and cannot depend on their speed to keep themselves safe. They overcome this by sensing with their eyes with a distance of 5-10 metres to see if a danger is coming.

    Chameleons have some of the most unique eyes in the animal kingdom with almost a 360-degree arc of vision and the ability to move both eyes independently. With the ability to move their eyes separately to survey around them, chameleons are often able to keep themselves out of harm’s way.

    Their incredible eyes allow chameleons to stay safe from predators and catch prey more efficiently – they truly are amazing creatures.

    Written by:

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    Lidya Gasper

    Tanzania correspondent

    Mtae, Tanzania

    Born in Dar Es Salaam in 2009, Lidya Gasper graduated from Mtae Primary School and is currently attending an international school in Tanzania with plans to become a biologist.

    She enjoys playing volleyball, dancing and studying. Her origins are in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, and she has two brothers and two sisters. At Harbingers’ Magazine, Lidya is the Tanzania Correspondent. She describes the life of her community and shares her experiences.

    She speaks Swahili and English.

    Edited by:

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    Grace Whitehouse

    Contributor

    Brackley, United Kingdom

    science

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