In what natural area does the chameleon live. Chameleon animal. Chameleon lifestyle and habitat. Possible chameleon diseases

The message about the chameleon for children can be used in preparation for the lesson. The story about the chameleon for children can be supplemented with interesting facts.

Report on the chameleon

Chameleon is one of the most unusual and beautiful lizards on the planet, which is able to change color. Belongs to the class Reptiles, order scaly.

Description of the chameleon

The average length of a chameleon is about 30 cm, the largest chameleons grow up to 65-68 cm, the size of the smallest lizards does not exceed 3-5 cm.

The head is often decorated with a crest or horns. The legs are long, the fingers look like "claws", which can tightly wrap around the branches of a tree. The tail is thick at the base, gradually tapering towards the end, and can spiral down and wrap around the branches.

Chameleons have unusual organs of vision. The eyelids of animals are fused, permanently covering the eye, but having a hole for the pupil. The movements of the left and right eyes can be carried out independently of each other, which is important when catching insects. Chameleons have all-round visibility.

The tongue of a chameleon is equipped with a trapping sucker located at the very end. This helps him quickly catch prey.

In 3 seconds, the chameleon can catch 4 victims. The length of the chameleon's tongue is approximately 1.5-2 the length of the lizard itself.

Why does a chameleon change color?

The color of a chameleon can quickly change from light to black or dark brown.
Chameleons can copy the color of the surface of a stone or foliage, becoming invisible.
Sometimes changes in skin color are usually associated with the expression of threat, fear, irritation, as well as hunger and dehydration.

The nervous system "helps" the chameleon to disguise itself. The color of the environment irritates the eyes, and hence the optic nerves, through which irritation is transmitted to the central nervous system and under its influence in the skin of animals, special cells, the presence of coloring substances, expand or contract. Cells expand - the skin becomes darker, shrink - brighten. If a chameleon's eyes are covered with wax, its skin color will not change.

How long do chameleons live?

The average life expectancy of chameleons is 3-5 years

Where do chameleons live?

Chameleons live in many African countries. Separate populations live in Southern Europe and Western Asia, in the south of India, in Syria, in Sri Lanka, in the Hawaiian Islands, as well as in the USA, in the states of California and Florida.

Chameleon lifestyle

Chameleons prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle, although some males get along well in a harem consisting of several females.

All the time the chameleon is in the dense branches of trees or shrubs. It rarely descends to the soil surface, usually during the mating season or after noticing tasty prey. The chameleon is lazy, moves a little and can not change its position for hours, securely clasping a branch with its paws and tail.

What do chameleons eat in nature?

The basis of the diet of chameleons is made up of all kinds of insects (grasshoppers, crickets, butterflies, beetles), small lizards and snakes. Large species prey on rodents, birds and other small animals. A small part of the diet consists of leaves and fruits of trees.

Chameleon breeding

Most chameleon species breed twice a year. The mating season begins with a fierce struggle between males for a female. In the course of desperate duels, they can be injured or killed.

Females of egg-laying species lay from 15 to 60 eggs, burying them in the sand, and individuals living in trees hang the masonry on branches. The incubation period is 3-10 months. Viviparous and ovoviviparous species bring from 5 to 15 cubs, and soon after birth they are again capable of reproduction.

Chameleons are diurnal because they are unable to control color changes during sleep, turn pale and can become easy prey for predators.

Although the black color of the chameleon scares off some enemies and increases the chances of survival, the mourning color is acquired by males rejected by the female, as well as weak rivals who have been defeated and forced to retreat in disgrace.

In Spain, chameleons are kept as flycatchers, exterminating hordes of annoying insects in homes and retail shops.

The chameleon is one of the oldest animals on the planet. The fossil remains of these lizards are about 26 million years old. According to some reports, there are finds up to 100 million years old.

We hope the above information about chameleons has helped you. And you can leave your report about the chameleon through the comment form.

Class - reptiles

Detachment - scaly

Family - Chameleons

Genus/Species - Chamaeleo chamaeleon. Chameleon ordinary

Basic data:

DIMENSIONS

Body length (from head to base of tail): 20-30 cm.

Tail length: 20-30 cm.

tongue length: 20-30 cm.

BREEDING

Mating period: usually late summer.

Number of eggs: 20-40, the female digs them into the ground; cubs hatch after 9 months.

LIFE STYLE

Habits: chameleons (see photo), with the exception of the mating season, are kept alone; active during the day, keeping among the branches of trees.

What does it eat: insects, spiders, mollusks and tadpoles.

RELATED SPECIES

It is the only species found in Europe. About 80 species of chameleons live in Africa and Asia. The largest of them reaches 60-65 cm in length, and the length of the smallest is only 5 cm.

The chameleon lives in forests or in areas with tree or shrub vegetation, but in Africa it is also found on sand dunes, where it hides in the burrows of various animals. Hiding among the branches, he looks out for prey.

WHAT DOES IT FEED

The common chameleon is the greatest master of disguise. By changing its color, it completely merges with the environment. Hidden among the foliage, the chameleon sits motionless, watching for prey to appear nearby. Noticing the prey, he slowly approaches it, and then throws out his long tongue, capturing the victim with its tweezer-like tip. Previously, it was thought that the victim was glued to a sticky tongue, and only filming made it possible to reveal that the chameleon captures prey precisely with a forked tip.

BREEDING

The chameleon leads a solitary lifestyle and only during the mating season does this animal seek society. Each chameleon lives on its own territory and jealously protects it from strangers. The male drives away rivals, taking a warlike pose - he fills his lungs with air and inflates the skin on his neck.

Chameleons mate in trees. It is dated for the middle-end of summer. The female lays about 20-40 eggs in October-November. She buries them into a deep hole, which she digs with her front legs. The female pushes the dug-out ground with her hind legs. Burying the egg, the female rakes dry leaves and branches from above, forming a dense floor. Then the female chameleon returns to the crown of the tree, placing further care for her offspring in the sun. The young develop in the egg, feeding on its yolk, like chicks. Young chameleons are born after 9 months. They come out of the shell with the help of a special outgrowth on the head, which is called the egg tooth. Newborn chameleon lizards are miniature copies of their parents. On the ground, babies are in danger of being eaten by predators, so they climb trees almost immediately.

SELF DEFENSE

The camouflage coloration not only helps the chameleon to remain invisible while hunting, but is also an excellent defense against enemies. The change in color of chameleons is associated with the structural features of their integument. The outer layer of the skin of these animals contains chromatophores - cells with grains of dark brown, reddish and yellow pigment. With the contraction of the processes of chromatophores, the grains are collected in the center of the cells, and the skin of the chameleon becomes whitish or yellow. When the dark pigment is concentrated in the fibrous layer of the skin, it becomes black. The appearance of other shades causes a combination of pigments of both layers. And green tones arise as a result of the refraction of rays in the surface layer, which contains guanine crystals that refract light. The reptile can also change the color of individual parts of the body.

DEVICE FEATURES

The name "chameleon" comes from the name of a mythical creature that changes its appearance. However, the ability to quickly change color depending on the color of surrounding objects is not the only characteristic feature of an ordinary chameleon. The unusual structure of the organs of vision also deserves attention. The eyes of a chameleon are large and round, they are surrounded by a continuous annular eyelid, in the center of which there is a small hole for the pupil. The eyes of a chameleon move completely independently of each other. Eyes freely rotate 180° horizontally and 90° vertically. The body of chameleons is strongly compressed laterally. The head is helmet-shaped, decorated with crests and tubercles. The legs are long. The fingers end in sharp claws. A common chameleon uses a tenacious tail as a fifth limb.

GENERAL PROVISIONS. DESCRIPTION

With his tongue, he gets his own food - having noticed the victim, he gets into it with a sticky tongue and instantly draws it into his mouth.

Chameleons are a special group of lizard-like animals that can be found in almost every forest in Africa. They protect themselves from enemies by changing the color of the body, merging with the environment. The chameleon turns dark when annoyed and pale when frightened. The eyes of a chameleon rotate as if on hinges, and the tongue is longer than the whole body. The body size of a chameleon is up to 30 cm. There are from 7 to 38 small chameleons in a litter.

• The common chameleon is the northernmost member of the family. The rest live in Africa, in Central Asia, on the island of Madagascar, in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.
• Some species of chameleons have special decorations on their heads. For example, the Jackson chameleon has three pyramidal outgrowths on its head that grow in a row.
• The first reptiles appeared on our planet about 200-210 million years ago during the Permian period.

CHAMELEON FITTING FEATURES

Hunting method: a chameleon usually sits motionless on a branch, and only its eyes carefully examine everything around in search of insects. Noticing the prey and continuing to follow it, the chameleon begins to slowly move towards it until the distance to the victim reaches the length of the tongue, and then throws out the tongue with lightning speed and captures the insect with its forked tip, like tweezers.

Behavior: the chameleon sits motionless on a thin branch without losing balance. It is held on all four paws with claw-like feet and brushes, and it wraps a long, tenacious tail around a branch.

Language: length up to 30 cm, ends with a sticky, forked end.

WHERE Dwells

The common chameleon lives in North Africa, southern Spain, the islands of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as in southern Turkey, Syria and Arabia. In addition, it is found in India and Sri Lanka.

PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION

The common chameleon is not in danger of extinction. Reducing the number of lizards can cause cold summers.

Funny chameleon changes color - funny video. Video (00:01:18)

The fashion trend for exotic pets has not bypassed us :)
Our friends shared with us a great video of a chameleon walking around our colored discs.

How does a chameleon change color? Give me a paw. Video (00:03:23)

In this story: different types of chameleons. What are the features of their color? When does their color become brighter?

Chameleon is a master of disguise. Video (00:01:53)

We all know that a chameleon changes color, but in order to do so, you have to look.

Galileo. Chameleon. Video (00:11:03)

Chameleon paint and chameleon lizard. How do they change color?

Chameleon Best Camouflage, In the Animal World. Video (00:06:09)

Chameleon Best Concealer. In the animal world.
Chameleons are a family of lizards adapted to an arboreal lifestyle, capable of changing body color.

How a chameleon hunts. Video (00:04:18)

Color-changing skin, slow and fluid movements, long tongue and rolling eyes - all this makes the chameleon one of the amazing hunters. A small fragment of the documentary "Deceive in order to live."

Chameleons are widely known for their ability to change skin color, unique to land animals, they even got their name from the name of a mythical creature that can change appearance - the Chameleon. These animals form a separate family in the suborder Scaly, their closest relatives are iguanas and agamas. In total, 85 species of chameleons are known.

Panther chameleon (Panther chameleon).

The body length of most chameleons is 20-30 cm, the largest species, the Ostaleti chameleon, reaches a length of 50-60 cm, and the smallest chameleon is considered to be small brookesia, in which the body length barely reaches 3.5-4.5 cm.

African pygmy chameleon (Rhampholeon temporalis).

Although chameleons are systematically close to lizards, they have so many peculiar structural features that they bear little resemblance even to closely related species.

The body of the chameleons is flattened from the sides, the back is noticeably arched and decorated with a crest, which is why the chameleons give the impression of eternally hunched.

Their head is even more bizarrely decorated: in some species it is crowned with a crest, in others there are outgrowths on the muzzle resembling horns, in others the occipital outgrowths give the head the shape of a helmet. True, such decorations are clearly visible only in males, in females they are weakly expressed.

Jackson's chameleon (Chamaeleo jacksonii).

The eyelids of the chameleons have grown together tightly and close the eyes almost completely, leaving only a small hole in the center for the pupil, which makes the eyes of these animals seem bulging. Chameleons rotate them like telescopic tubes in all directions (viewing angle 360 ​​°), moreover, the rotation of the eyes can be carried out independently of each other. This structure of the eyes allows chameleons to focus on small moving objects with the highest accuracy. But chameleons, like snakes, have no ears. However, they perceive sounds with a frequency of 200-600 Hz.

The eye of Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii).

Another adaptation for hunting is an unusual tongue. In chameleons, it can reach the length of the body, the tongue has the shape of a stalk with an extension at the end. Insects stick to this “spoon”, which the chameleon draws along with the tongue into the oral cavity.

The tail of most chameleons is long and twisted into a characteristic spiral when at rest.

Only a few small species have very short, stubbed tails that are unable to curl. The unusual structure of the paws completes this bizarre portrait. They are five-fingered in chameleons, and the fingers are located perpendicular to the axis of the limb and are opposed to each other: on the front paws, two fingers are directed outward, and three inward, and on the hind legs - vice versa. The skin of chameleons is rough, separate sharp scales form ridges and notches on the chin, neck and back.

The paws of chameleons are the perfect grasping tool, allowing them to hold on to thin branches.

It is believed that chameleons can change color arbitrarily to match the color of the environment. This statement is only partly true. In fact, each species of chameleon has its own specific coloration, which changes relatively little under normal conditions. Among chameleons there are monochromatic, spotted and striped species. The natural coloration can be very nondescript (brown, gray) or bright (green, greenish-blue), in variegated species, individual parts of the body can be orange, red.

Male Yemeni chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) in natural coloration.

Coloring is due to the presence in the skin of special pigmented cells - chromatophores. They have a branched shape and can change their size (shrink, expand). When chromatophores of one color contract, others expand at the same time, so the area of ​​body parts of different colors can change. Each type of chameleon can change color only within the range of colors given to it by nature. For example, a brown chameleon may darken to almost black or turn pale to almost white, but it cannot become blue or striped, and vice versa, a striped chameleon will show barely noticeable stripes with any color change. Despite such limitations, the ability of chameleons to transform is amazing. Usually chameleons only slightly change the shade of their natural color, adjusting it in accordance with the environment, but "overwhelmed" with strong feelings, they can radically change. A frightened chameleon often turns pale, and an aggressive one can darken to black or become covered with a bright pattern.

The female Yemeni chameleon does not have a "helmet". On the body of an actively "green" female, traces of the original "calm" coloration are visible - small specks and very pale stripes.

Chameleons are inhabitants of warm countries. The center of species diversity is Madagascar, where many endemic and rare species that are not found outside of it live, and many chameleons also live in Africa. Outside this region, chameleons can only be found in India, Sri Lanka, the Middle East and Southern Europe (1-2 species each). Most chameleons live in tropical rainforests and keep in the crowns of trees, some African chameleons lead a terrestrial lifestyle and live in the forest floor or dig holes in the desert. Chameleons are sedentary, they occupy a small area, which is protected from neighbors. Males allow females into their territory, and drive other males away. Chameleons move very slowly, they slowly wrap their paws around the branches, often swaying back and forth, sometimes they freeze on the branches in immobility for a long time.

On the ground, chameleons move clumsily, and they don’t know how to swim at all.

Chameleons feed on insects (ants, butterflies, caterpillars, praying mantises, crickets), worms, snails, large species can sometimes eat small birds and lizards. Their diet occasionally may include shoots and buds of plants. Chameleons first track down prey from an ambush, rotating their eyes in all directions, then slowly creep up to it, pointing both eyes at it at the last moment, and then throw out their tongue at a speed of 0.04-0.05 s! The force of separation can reach 50 g, the chameleon grabs heavier prey with its jaws.

The victim sticks to the tongue thanks to sticky saliva and a notch at the end that creates a vacuum effect (suction cup principle).

Marriage fights of chameleons come down to psychological struggle. Having met, the males are covered with a very bright, rapidly changing war coloring, open their mouths, hiss loudly, in a word, in every possible way take the opponent to fright. Often, after watching such a "movie", a weaker opponent takes to his heels. If this does not happen, then the chameleons begin to butt their horns, bite, but do not injure each other. Females of some species have special sperm receptacles in which sperm can be stored for a long time, so once mated, the female can bring offspring several times. Females lay 4-80 small parchment-covered eggs. To do this, they descend to the ground and dig a hole.

A female chameleon can spend several days digging a hole.

Two-striped and motley chameleons are ovoviviparous: after 5-7 months of pregnancy, they lay eggs in a transparent sticky shell on the surface of the leaves and chameleons immediately hatch from them. Chameleon eggs do not begin to develop immediately, at first they are in a "sleeping" state, and only then does the development of the embryo begin. Therefore, the total duration of incubation is huge - 3-12 months! Newborn chameleons are fully developed, independent, and grow rapidly, reaching adult size in about a year.

The bizarre chameleon Labordi (Furcifer labordi) spends 8 months of life in an egg, and dies 4-5 months after birth. This is one of the shortest living species.

Chameleons have neither sharp teeth nor poison, therefore they are attractive prey for many predators (snakes, birds). Interestingly, Smith's pygmy chameleon uses different patterns of camouflage coloration for different predators - birds that distinguish colors and snakes that do not have color vision.

Ostaleti's chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti) shows perfect camouflage.

Due to the relatively low fecundity and limited range, many species of chameleons have become rare. The chameleons of Madagascar are especially in need of protection; many Madagascar species are listed in the Red Book. At the same time, chameleons are often kept in home terrariums as unpretentious and very attractive pets.

The panther chameleon is one of the favorite inhabitants of home terrariums.

The chameleon is considered one of the most amazing inhabitants of our planet. He is able not only to change his color, but also to look in two directions at the same time. Therefore, there is nothing strange in the fact that many people are interested in what chameleons look like and where they live. In which country you can meet these creatures, you will learn from today's article.

Habitat

They inhabit steppes, savannahs, deserts and tropical forests. Their main habitats are considered to be Sri Lanka, South India, the Middle East and North Africa. For those who want to understand where chameleons live, it will be interesting to know that they are often found in Hawaii and the United States.

Many of them live in trees. But some species of African reptiles that live in the sand dunes dig holes and hide in them from cold and heat.

Appearance

Having figured out where chameleons live in nature, you need to understand what these creatures look like. The skin of these reptiles belonging to the lizard family has two pigment layers. This is what explains their ability to change their color.

The wide body of these amazing animals is covered with small scales, and on a rather narrow head there are small tubercles, horns or a crest. As a rule, such formations are present in males.

For those who want to understand where chameleons live in Tunisia, it will be interesting to learn about another feature of tree lizards. Their eyes are almost completely closed by fused eyelids, on which there are only small holes for the pupils. In addition, these reptiles have a very long tongue. They are able to throw it out of their mouths at a distance exceeding the size of their torso. On the paws of animals there are two or three fused fingers, directed in opposite directions. Such claw-like limbs allow chameleons to easily move through trees.

As for the size, they depend on the type of reptile. So, the length of some of them does not exceed thirty millimeters, while others grow up to sixty centimeters. Also, these creatures have a tenacious tail, with which they grab and hold objects.

Behavioral Features

Those who have already understood where chameleons live will not be hurt by the information that they like to gather in small groups of six individuals. Having looked for a convenient branch for themselves, they cling to it with their paws and tail. In this position, reptiles are able to spend about twenty-four hours. To leave a convenient branch, located at a decent height from the surface of the earth, they can only be forced by a truly worthwhile business.

Having figured out where chameleons live, it will not be superfluous to mention that among all inactive animals, only they are able to sit in one place for hours, and sometimes for days, waiting for the prey to approach. They feed on locusts, grasshoppers, crickets and other insects. The diet of large individuals is slightly more varied. They feed on birds and small lizards.

How do these reptiles reproduce?

The mating period depends on the time of year and habitat. At the height of the mating season, males become very aggressive. They arrange real tournaments, the winners of which get the right to become the head of the “harem” in their area. They are painted in bright martial colors, inflate and hiss at each other. Males butt each other with processes located on the head and bite rivals.

Having understood where chameleons live, you need to figure out exactly how they reproduce. Interestingly, they can do this in several different ways. But representatives of most species prefer the usual reproduction for reptiles. At one time, the female can lay from fifteen to eighty eggs. She then buries them deep in the ground or hangs them from a tree branch. The duration of the incubation period is up to ten months.

Some species of chameleons are viviparous. Such reptiles have up to fourteen babies, for which a kind of “nursery” is being built. The cubs are glued with mucus directly to the branches of trees and fed for a certain period.

Some species of these animals are capable of parthenogenesis. Females without the participation of males lay unfertilized eggs. Subsequently, full-fledged viable cubs hatch from them.

Jokes, jokes, but the chameleon, whatever one may say, really looks like a living rainbow. Changing colors with ease and having a 360-degree field of view, this handsome man is one of the most interesting reptiles on Earth. So why not find out more about him?

Where to look for chameleons

If you like to watch chameleons and somehow find yourself on about. Madagascar, consider yourself lucky. Half of all chameleons on the planet live there, and 59 species of them are found nowhere else in the world.

In total, there are approximately 160 species of chameleons on Earth. Their distribution area is quite wide - from Africa to Southern Europe, from South Asia to about. Sri Lanka. There are chameleons in the USA.

How and why chameleons change color

Most often you can find chameleons that can change color from brown to green and even black. But there are those for whom it costs nothing to acquire any other color. In just 20 seconds!

How do chameleons manage to change colors so cleverly? The thing is that these animals are born with special cells - chromatophores, which lie under the outer skin of the chameleon. It is in them that the color pigment is contained, so skillfully coloring the reptiles under the environment.

The upper layer of the chromatophore has a red or yellow pigment, the lower one is blue or white. Expanding and contracting, the pigments mix in the cells, like paints, and we see a stunning effect.

Why do chameleons change colors? It is believed that the color change helps them communicate with each other. The color of a chameleon depends on its mood, temperature and lighting.

Appearance of chameleons

Chameleons have unique eyes that can rotate independently of each other. That is why the reptile sees in two directions at the same time. Where is there an ordinary person to take!

The vision of these beauties is so developed that they will see even the smallest insects from a distance of 5–10 m!

While the male Brookesia micra is only 15 mm long, the male Furcifer oustaleti grows to 68.5 cm.

A distinctive feature of chameleons is their long tongue. In some reptiles, it is 2 times the size of the body. Only 0.07 seconds - and the prey is in the hands, or rather, on the tongue of the chameleon.

The paws of a chameleon are well adapted for climbing branches. On each foot, the chameleon has five distinct toes, equipped with claws.

You will find a lot of interesting things about animals.