Chamaeleo zeylanicus from Western Ghats, India

Chamaeleo zeylanicus is the only chameleon species native to the Indian subcontinent, with a range spanning peninsular India, Sri Lanka, and southeastern Pakistan. It is oviparous, with clutch sizes ranging from 10–40 eggs, deposited in deep soil burrows (~25 cm) during the dry season. Morphologically, it exhibits a high parietal casque, prominent gular crest. Males possess a tarsal spur, aiding sex identification. The species shows rapid chromatic shifts, primarily for thermoregulation and social signaling—not camouflage. Despite its wide distribution, C. zeylanicus is phylogenetically isolated from African congeners, likely due to Miocene oceanic dispersal. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but Sri Lankan populations may warrant reassessment due to habitat fragmentation and taxonomic uncertainty. No CITES quotas issued in recent decades.

Photos courtesy Thokur Rajesh Alva