CHAMELEONOLOGY: 

The miracle of the moment when new life is being started...

The majority of chameleons lay eggs that incubate for several months. As hatching approaches, the eggs begin to release a liquid or droplets on their surface, signaling the start of the hatching process. At this point, breeders in captivity face a decision: allow the baby chameleon to hatch naturally or intervene by carefully cutting the egg open....

The Carpet Chameleon (Furcifer lateralis) is a small chameleon species endemic to eastern Madagascar. It inhabits forests, shrubby areas, grasslands, and well-vegetated gardens, thriving at elevations between 120 and 1,925 meters. Males are primarily green with whitish or yellowish markings, while females display a wider range of colors, including...

This study examines the impact of habitat alteration on endemic Afromontane chameleons in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, focusing on historical population declines due to deforestation and fragmentation. Researchers used hierarchical spatial modeling to estimate population densities and assess the effects of habitat changes over time.

A study examines the evolution of karyotypes in chameleons, focusing on chromosome number, morphology, and sex determination systems. Chameleons exhibit high variability in their karyotypes compared to other squamates, with differences in chromosome structure and interstitial telomeric signals (ITS). However, the location of ribosomal DNA (rDNA)...

Researchers have used 3D modeling to better understand the prehensile tails of chameleons, which play a crucial role in their locomotion and balance. Chameleons rely on their tails to grasp branches, allowing them to move efficiently through trees while reducing the risk of falling.

A study documents an exceptionally rare predation event involving a Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) preying on a chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) in the wild. Chameleons are not typical prey for large nocturnal raptors, and this observation provides new insights into the ecological interactions between avian predators and arboreal reptiles.

Furcifer pardalis: same animal, same time, different sides

The AG Chamäleons is a unique platform where scientists and amateur herpetologists meet to exchange knowledge and advance chameleon research. From May 16–18, 2025, its annual meeting took place in Boppard am Rhein, bringing together over 35 participants. The event kicked off with casual networking, followed by remote lectures, species-specific...

Calumma oshaughnessyi, a Malagasy chameleon species, faces increasing threats from habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species. One such invasive plant, Desmodium uncinatum (Silverleaf Desmodium), has recently been identified as a cause of chameleon mortality in Madagascar's Ranomafana National Park. This plant, introduced for cattle forage,...

Whether by circumstance or deliberate choice, many reptile keepers end up raising female Yemen chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus). After several months, they are often shocked when their female chameleon, despite never having encountered a male, begins changing colors and later lays a clutch of eggs.

Private keepers of chameleons often perpetuate the myth that chameleons cannot be cohabitated and that they should not see each other. While cohabitation in small enclosures is not advisable for multiple reasons, the belief that distant eye contact causes stress is false and belongs to outdated husbandry myths.

Researchers have discovered that anammox bacteria undergo surface color changes when subjected to prolonged starvation. This phenomenon is not driven by cytochrome c levels, as previously suspected, but rather by metabolic shifts that lead to iron-sulfur compound formation.

Influenza A virus is notorious for its ability to undergo frequent antigenic changes, earning it the nickname "The Chameleon Virus." Since its first isolation in the United Kingdom in 1933, researchers have identified key mechanisms that allow the virus to evade immune defenses and persist in human populations. The hemagglutinin (HA) protein plays...

Chameleons have been kept in captivity for centuries, with a significant rise in captive breeding beginning in the latter half of the 20th century. This trend continues to grow today. Initially, success in chameleon care meant keeping them alive for a few weeks or months. However, modern advancements have allowed some species to thrive for years...

Dispelling Misconceptions In Chameleon Husbandry

The longitudinally lined pattern seen in Rieppeleon brevicaudatus appears to be more prevalent in neonates and juveniles compared to adults. This could be linked to an ontogenetic niche shift, where younger individuals primarily inhabit grass-level environments, while adults gradually transition to lower bush levels.

Chameleon_wifi_virus_common_cold Wi-Fi access points (APs) are devices that transmit and receive Wi-Fi signal. In other words, whenever you are accessing Wi-Fi, your device is connected to a Wi-Fi access point (wireless router). These devices are often left unprotected or have poor security in place. Until now, it was assumed that it was not...

In chameleon husbandry, extremely often, keepers and breeders swear that health issues which they want to consult and solve with a VET or in forums or FaceBook groups, appeared suddenly. They claim everything was fine for months or years and this means their husbandry must have been correct. They are badly mistaken.

Chameleons are not natural swimmers, but they can navigate through water when absolutely necessary. They seldom swim, typically doing so only when they accidentally fall into water or when they need to cross a body of water while moving to a new location.

Described as Chamaeleo dilepis martensi MERTENS 1964, it was escaping attention of the researchers... Compare its pictures to Chamaeleo dilepis, It is indeed a separate species.

Bill Strand, a global leader in chameleon popularization and education, has taken a bold step to fill a significant gap in chameleon literature—the care of hatchlings and neonates.

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a UV-assisted direct-ink-write 3D printing technique that enables dynamic color changes during the printing process. Inspired by the structural coloration of chameleons, this method allows a single ink to produce a wide range of colors by controlling light exposure and...

Researchers at EPFL, Wageningen University, MIT, Yale, and Jülich Research Center have developed METEOR, an AI program designed to classify objects in satellite images with minimal training data. Unlike traditional AI models that require extensive datasets, METEOR can recognize new objects after being shown only a few images, making it highly...

Researchers at the American Chemical Society have developed a color-changing coating that mimics the thermal regulation abilities of the Namaqua chameleon. This innovative material adjusts its reflectivity based on temperature, keeping buildings cool in summer and warm in winter without additional energy input. The coating consists of thermochromic...

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed a revolutionary device called the catalytic condenser, which electronically modifies one metal to behave like another, enabling more efficient chemical reactions. This innovation opens the door for catalytic technologies using non-precious metal catalysts, reducing reliance on...

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a chameleon-like material by incorporating boron into vanadium dioxide, bringing it closer to mimicking brain cell activity. Vanadium dioxide is known for its metal-insulator transition, where it shifts between conducting and insulating states based on temperature. By introducing boron, scientists...

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have developed a nanomaterial that mimics chameleon skin, allowing robots to change color in response to movement. The material consists of gold nanorods fused with magnetic nanorods, encapsulated in a polymer shield. By controlling the orientation of these rods using magnets, scientists can...

Rosetta mission data has revealed how comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko undergoes color changes as it moves through space. The European Space Agency's VIRTIS instrument tracked the comet over two years, showing that its nucleus appeared redder when far from the Sun due to dust-covered surfaces. As it approached the Sun, sublimation exposed fresh ice,...

Researchers at Iowa State University have developed "chameleon metals"—materials that change their surface structure in response to heat. By treating liquid metal alloys with controlled heating, scientists observed the formation of tiny spheres and nanowires, altering the metal's surface texture. This breakthrough could lead to smart alloy...