Rainbow Reptiles
by Mei Cable
Table of Contents
Chameleon Habitat...1
Animal Class...2
Food...3
Food Chain...4
Structural Adaptations...5-6
Behavioral Adaptation...7
Weather Changes...8
Glossary...9
Bibliography...10
Chameleon Habitat
Chameleons are found in Africa, Madagascar, and India. They live in trees or they
hang out on the forest floor in the day and crawl in trees and bushes. Chameleon
habitats are usually in rainforests, lowland deserts, semi-deserts, scrub savannas,
and even mountains. The Namaqua Chameleon can survive in Africa's Namib Desert
one of the world's hottest and driest places.
Animal Class
A chameleon has a backbone/vertebrae so it is a vertebrate. A chameleon is a reptile, a type of
vertebrate. It is a reptile because of its dry scaly skin, they lay eggs, and they are cold blooded.
You know chameleons are cold blooded because a cold blooded creature are different depending on
the air temperature/ temperature.
Food
Prey
Chameleons
favorite things to
eat are locust,
crickets, praying
mantises, and
other bugs.
Chameleons are
omnivores so
they will eat a lot
of things. They are
not picky eaters.
Predators
Some animals
that dwell in
tree's eat
chameleons,
such as
snakes and
birds.
Food Chain
This is one of many different food chains that include chameleons.
The snake is one of the chameleon's predators. The chameleon's prey (usually bugs)
most likely got their energy from the plants, and plants got their energy from the sun.
All of the energy from the prey goes to the chameleon which goes to the snake, and
that energy goes to the mongoose which is the top of the food chain.
Structural Adaptation
Tails
Tongue
Eyes
Most chameleon tails are
Chameleon tongues have
Chameleon eyes are very unique. Their
grasp onto a tree with
the end of it. Some
leaving a little hole for them to see out of.
prehensile. They can
not only their feet but
their tail. They can reach
out to get a bug and hold
on by their tail. Their tail
is like their fifth foot.
a sticky suction cup at
chameleon tongues can
be longer or even twice
as long as the
chameleon itself.
eyelids form a dome over their eyes
They can't blink/close their eyes. Their
vision is really good. One eye can look
forward as the other one look back, or
one eye can look to the right as the other
looks left. There are many combinations.
Structural Adaptation
Watch this chameleon change color! (if you want you can skip the intro)
Toes/Feet
Salad tongs look a little like
chameleon's joined together
toes. They have three toes in
the back and two in the front.
This adaptation helps them
grasp and walk along trees.
Color
Lots of people probably think chameleons change color
for camouflage, this is partly true and even scientist used
to think this, but they mostly only use it to communicate,
show emotions, and to heat and cool themselves off (see
the Weather Change section). If you see a dark colored
chameleon it may be that they are scared or sick. They
use color to communicate. For example, if a male
chameleon see's another male in its territory the
chameleon will flash red, green, blue, or yellow at the
intruder to say, " This is my territory." The intruder will
usually turn brown as if to say, "I'm sorry." When a male
see's a female in his territory he will flash his most bright
and vivid colors and patterns. This means he is asking if
she wants to mate.
Behavioral Adaptation
Watch a chameleon shoot its tongue out in slow motion
Chameleons hunt alone
most of the time
because of their quick
tongues. Some
chameleon tongues can
shoot their tongue out in
1/50 of a second. They
can be almost or twice
as long as their body.
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When a chameleon spots
a predator they sway
back and forth with the
wind. It helps the
chameleon blend in with
its surroundings. A
chameleon could also
change color to
camouflage. Tree
chameleons are usually a
green color so they
match their surrounding.
Weather Changes
Cooling down
Heating Up
Cooling down is another
Chameleons may turn a
colors. If a chameleon gets
down. This is because
reason chameleons change
too hot they can either hide
in a shady place or turn
light green or white to
deflect the rays off the sun.
darker color to cool
dark colors deflect the
sun. Changing color to
cool down or warm up is
important because they
work faster when they
are warm and they will
more time to eat , digest,
catch, or break down
food.
Glossary
Namaqua - Nam-a-kwa
Omnivore- eats bot meat and plants
Prehensile- an adaption for grasping or taking
hold of something.
Internet Sources
Bibliograpghy
Book Sources
cover-picture-http://sciencenewstoyou.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-chameleons-change-their-skin- l
colour.html
Adaptation-tongue- http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2008/06/07/agamids-and-
chameleons/ - feet- http://reptilis.net/lacertilia/chamaeleonidae/bodyplan.html - color adaptation-
http://twistedsifter.com/2012/11/ten-things-you-didnt-know-about-chameleons/ - eyes- http://
pixdaus.com/chameleon-eye-by-daniel-heuclin-animals-wildlife/items/view/35184/ - tail - http://
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthpicturegalleries/8554662/Reptiles-and-amphibiansphotographed-by-Igor-Siwanowicz.html?image=4
Namaqua chameleon in Namib Desert- http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/natures_best_2008/gallery/
chameleon.html
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Namib Desert- http://donandjess.travellerspoint.com/136/
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Collage makers- www.picmonkey.com and http://www.getloupe.com/create?r=gd
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Chameleon Habitat- http://www.vwviaje.com/Practice/africa_entry_one.html
animal class- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthpicturegalleries/8554662/Reptilesand-amphibians-photographed-by-Igor-Siwanowicz.html?image=2
food- http://www.animalspot.net/veiled-chameleon.html
food chain- http://www.thunderboltkids.co.za/Grade4/03-energy-and-change/chapter1.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthpicturegalleries/8554662/Reptiles-andamphibians-photographed-by-Igor-Siwanowicz.html?image=4
deforestation- http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/may/15/forests.brazil
www.nfw.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick/Animals/Amphibians-and-Reptiles/Chameleons/.aspx
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Chart of vertebrates in my science book
Lizards Weird and Wonderful- Margery
Facklam
How do chameleons change colorMelissa Stewart
Chameleon, Chameleon- Joy Cowley (In
the Did You Know section)