Meet Avi, a male Panther Chameleon currently residing at CNC. I'm obsessed with true chameleons. I always have been enamoured by them since I was little. I honestly feel like they are the most remarkable animals on earth today. Here's why I love them so:
*There are about 160 species of chameleons--sixty of which are found only in Madagascar.
*Chameleons can range from 1 inch to 1 foot long.
*Many species of chameleons have fantastic facial ornaments such as horns, crests and nasal protuberances.
*Chameleons have cells called chromatophores that lie under their skin that contain pigments, including the colors red, yellow, blue, and white. The brain tells the cells to shrink or enlarge, causing the pigments to mix (like paint), thus causing their color to change.
*Chameleons don't change color to blend with their environment, instead they change due to mood, temperature and light.
*Their eyes can rotate and focus separately on two different objects at the same time. When it comes time to focus on one thing (like food) they have extremely precise stereoscopic vision.
*They have full 360 degree vision.
*They have prehensile tails can easily wrap around a branch if they happen to fall.
*They lack outer or middle ears but communicate through site and vibration.
*Their suction cup-like tongues are longer than their body length and hits prey in about 30 thousandths of a second--faster than the eye can see.
*Chameleons can see ultraviolet light.
*They have didactyl feet with three toes fused together and two toes fused together to make a mitten-like foot that is excellent at gripping branches.
*Some chameleons give birth to live young.
To learn more, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chameleon and when you get the chance, visit Avi and look at his eyes, his feet, his tail, his tongue (which is actually broken) and his skin. He is truly a wonder of nature! Chameleons are jam-packed with interesting features from head to toe.
