Too late, so no food. Calumma cristifer steals a grasshopper to Calumma malthe

Chameleons feed using a ballistic tongue that launches with extreme speed and precision, allowing them to capture prey far heavier than the tongue itself.

Key Points on Chameleon Tongue Feeding

• Ballistic projection: The tongue can extend up to 2.5 body lengths in as little as 10–55 milliseconds, reaching accelerations between 500–2590 m/s² .

• Elastic energy storage: Collagen sheaths and specialized accelerator muscles store and release energy, producing peak power densities of 3000–14,000 W/kg, far beyond what muscle contraction alone could achieve .

• Prey capture efficiency: The sticky, suction‑like tongue tip secures insects up to 15% of the chameleon's body weight, making it one of the most effective feeding mechanisms in reptiles .