LIFE : Panther Chameleon : Animal Planet

PANTHER CHAMELEON

Look up in Madagascar, and you may glimpse an expert hunter quietly traversing tree branches and shrubs, stalking its insect prey. Or you may not. The panther chameleon, all 13 to 22 inches (33 to 56 centimeters) of it, is a master of disguises. In the wild, it lives up to two years, and a female may lay up to two dozen eggs in a burrow she digs in the ground.

A MOUTH WITH A MISSILE

Extraordinarily long, powerful tongues and rotating eyes that give them practically 360— degree vision add to the panther chameleon's remarkable package. Both attributes allow the chameleon to strike its prey suddenly and from a distance. While the reptile moves slowly, its tongue is fast as a whip and covered in viscous mucus, with strong muscles at the end that allow it to firmly grasp its prey.

The nimble chameleon also has strong limbs, ending in toes that form what look like two pincers or digits. These toes are excellent at grasping onto branches and other surfaces, adding to its agility. It can walk along a narrow branch and then stand up on its hind legs, place its toes on a higher branch and lift itself up by its forelegs — a sort of reptilian chin-up.

COLOR THAT REPTILE ANGRY

Consistent with its name, the animal's skin can change color dramatically, whether for camouflage — useful in both hunting and defense — or to signal its emotional state. Bright colors often indicate excitement or anger.

Color can also indicate gender. A panther chameleon with bright blue-green coloring and patches of vivid yellow, pink and red, particularly near the head, is a male. Some males are darker with a more uniform deep-green color and a lighter stripe running along their side. These males may be confused with females, whose colors are generally muted — pale orange, light blue-green, gray, light brown — although they do become brighter when they're ready to mate.

Like other lizards, panther chameleons may be found bathing in the sun, both to increase their body temperature and to absorb vitamin D. According to a study conducted at Texas Christian University, panther chameleons can actually gauge their vitamin D levels, and if they've already ingested enough vitamin D through their food, they'll spend less time in the sun.

Panther chameleons remain plentiful in Madagascar, thanks, in part, to strict trade controls.

Written by Jacob Silverman, HowStuffWorks

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