All Topics  
Veiled Chameleon

 
Veiled Chameleon

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Veiled Chameleon
 
 
  Topics Veiled Chameleon Topic Home

The veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus, is a large species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
 of chameleon
Chameleon

Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, and the possession by many of a prehensile tail, crests or horns on their...
 found in the mountain
Mountain

A mountain is a landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill....
 regions of Yemen
Yemen

Yemen , officially the Republic of Yemen is an Arab country located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia. Yemen has an estimated population of more than 23 million people and is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the North, the Red Sea to the West, the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden to the South, and Oman to the east....
 and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....
. It is also sometimes referred to as the Yemen Chameleon.

The male
Malé

Mal? , population 104,403 , is the Capital , the largest city in terms of population, and the name of an island in the Maldives. It is located at the southern edge of North Male' Atoll Kaafu Atoll....
 veiled chameleon is green in color and, depending on mood, this green will range from a bright lime
Lime (color)

Lime green is a color between yellow and green, so named because it is a representation of the color of the citrus fruit called Lime s. It is the color that is half way between the web color Chartreuse and yellow on the color wheel....
 green to a red olive drab. The green base color is marked with stripes and spots of yellow, brown, and blue.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Veiled Chameleon'
Start a new discussion about 'Veiled Chameleon'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus, is a large species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
 of chameleon
Chameleon

Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, and the possession by many of a prehensile tail, crests or horns on their...
 found in the mountain
Mountain

A mountain is a landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill....
 regions of Yemen
Yemen

Yemen , officially the Republic of Yemen is an Arab country located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia. Yemen has an estimated population of more than 23 million people and is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the North, the Red Sea to the West, the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden to the South, and Oman to the east....
 and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....
. It is also sometimes referred to as the Yemen Chameleon.

The male
Malé

Mal? , population 104,403 , is the Capital , the largest city in terms of population, and the name of an island in the Maldives. It is located at the southern edge of North Male' Atoll Kaafu Atoll....
 veiled chameleon is green in color and, depending on mood, this green will range from a bright lime
Lime (color)

Lime green is a color between yellow and green, so named because it is a representation of the color of the citrus fruit called Lime s. It is the color that is half way between the web color Chartreuse and yellow on the color wheel....
 green to a red olive drab. The green base color is marked with stripes and spots of yellow, brown, and blue. Non breeding female
Female

Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces mobile ovum . The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male....
s and juvenile chameleons are generally a uniform green color with some white markings. Breeding and gravid females are a very dark green with blue and yellow spots. The prominence of these markings is dependent on several factors including health, mood, and temperature of the lizard.

This species is sexually dimorphic, meaning it is possible to tell the gender of an individual by looking at physical traits. Aside from the previously mentioned color differences, adult male veiled chameleons are large animal
Animal

Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the Kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life....
s. It is possible for them to reach an over all length of 24 inches (60 cm). Most specimens usually reach between 14 to 18 inches (35-45 cm). Females are smaller with the average overall length being just under 12 inches (30 cm). Males and females both have a decorative growth called a "casque" on their heads. The casque of a male chameleon is much taller than the female's. Males also have a spur on each hind leg that the females do not have. This spur is present on males from hatching, and can grow larger with maturity.

Mrmeric
Like most chameleons, veiled chameleons are specialized tree
TREE

TREE was a Boston hardcore punk band formed in the summer of 1990. They were active in the Boston music scene until disbanding in 2002....
 dwellers. They have a flattened body meant to mimic a leaf and feet specially designed for grasping limbs and branches. They have a prehensile tail that acts as a fifth appendage and aids in climbing. Their eye
Eye

Eyes are Organ that detect light, and send signals along the optic nerve to the visual system and other areas of the brain. Complex optical systems with resolving power have come in ten fundamentally different forms, and 96% of animal species possess a complex optical system....
s work independently of one another allowing the chameleon to look in front of and behind itself at the same time. They have a long sticky tongue
Tongue

The tongue is skeletal muscle on the floor of the mouth that manipulates food for chewing . It is the primary organ of taste. Much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds....
 that they use to capture their insect
Insect

Insects are the biggest class of arthropods and the only ones with wings. They are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. They are most diverse at the equator and their diversity declines toward the poles....
 prey. Veiled chameleons are ambush predators and are capable of lying still for very long periods of time waiting for an unsuspecting locust
Locust

Locust is the swarming phase of short-horned grasshoppers of the family Acrididae. The origin and apparent extinction of certain species of locust—some of which reached 6 inches in length—are unclear....
 to wander by.

C Calyptratus Female
Veiled Chameleons are omnivore
Omnivore

Omnivores are species that eating both plants and animals as their primary food source. They are opportunistic, general feeders not specifically adapted to eat and digest either meat or plant material exclusively....
s. While their main diet consists of insects, they will occasionally consume the leaves, blossoms, and fruit of various plants. This is especially true in times of drought
Drought

A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation ....
 when water is scarce. Like all chameleons, veiled chameleons prefer to drink water that is in drops or on leaves. They do not always recognize standing water and may dehydrate if that is their only source.

Female veiled chameleons can produce up to 3 clutches of eggs
Egg (biology)

In most birds and reptiles, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. To enable incubation the egg is usually kept within a favourable temperature range as it nourishes and protects the growing embryo....
 a year. Each clutch may contain 20-70 eggs. The eggs usually take 6-9 months to hatch. All the eggs in the same clutch will hatch simultaneously, as long as they are incubated together. Female veiled chameleons will produce multiple clutches of eggs, with one male encounter and produce infertile eggs when there is no male, similar to chickens. They retain sperm, that is the reason why they lay so many clutches. Egg laying sand must be provided for mature females, or they can die of egg binding.

Veiled chameleons are often kept in captivity due to the fact that they are hardy when compared to other chameleon species often offered for sale. Like most old-world Chameleons, they must be kept individually in a screen enclosure, and provided with a basking light, and a source of UVB/UVA light. Water should be provided daily by misting and a drip system. Feeding should occur on a near daily basis. Vitamin and Calcium supplements need to be regularly dusted on prey offerings. Chameleons grow quickly, maturing sexually in only 6 months, and so must be provided an appropriately large enclosure. Adult males require at least 24"x24"x48" screen enclosures, but smaller enclosures can be used for juveniles, and can later be used to sun adults outdoors. As with all exotic pets, a qualified herpetologist veterinarian should be consulted when getting a new animal, and when any health or behavior problems are observed.

External links