Tiny Veiled Chameleon Hatchlings at National Zoo
June 15, 2010
Sometimes, tinier is better. This green little fellow is about as tiny as they come. The National Zoo's female veiled chameleon laid 27 eggs last December, some were infertile, and nine hatched between May 31 and June 14. The two- to three-inch-long young were very agile shortly after hatching. Adult chameleons are solitary animals, but for the first few weeks, the babies will be kept together.
Photo Credits: Meghan Murphy/Smithsonian's National Zoo
Cheers to Linda L. for the heads up!
Veiled chameleons are an arboreal lizard found in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula, specifically Yemen and southern Saudi Arabia. Their habitat ranges from moist, humid coastal plain to a somewhat treeless, arid agriculture landscape. Due to the lack of rain, this species will readily feed on vegetation for hydration, in addition to insects.
Chameleons are built for a life in the trees. They have feet that can grasp branches, a prehensile tail that serves as a fifth appendage, a laterally compressed body structure and acute vision with eyes that rotate independently. The chameleon’s exceptional vision is critical in insect prey capture. Chameleons have the ability to project their tongue 1.5 times their body length to capture prey with the lightning speed.
One of the most well-known aspects of chameleon biology is the ability to change colors. Chameleons change color to display their disposition, not specifically to camouflage into a particular background. Color change is not unique to chameleons; many reptile species have the ability to change color.