Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) ???
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialised clade of Old World lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015. These species come in a range of colours, and many species have the ability to change colour.
Chameleons are distinguished by their zygodactylous feet; their very extensive, highly modified, rapidly extrudable tongues; their swaying gait; and crests or horns on their brow and snout.
Most species, the larger ones in particular, also have a prehensile tail. Chameleons' eyes are independently mobile, but in aiming at a prey item, they focus forward in coordination, affording the animal stereoscopic vision.
Male panther chameleons can grow up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length, panther chameleons have a typical length of around 17 centimetres (6.7 in). Females are smaller, at about half the size. In a form of sexual dimorphism, males are more vibrantly coloured than the females.
Coloration varies with location, and the different colour patterns of panther chameleons are commonly referred to as 'locales', which are named after the geographical location in which they are found.
Panther chameleons from the areas of Nosy Be, Ankify, and Ambanja are typically a vibrant blue, and those from Ambilobe, Antsiranana, and Sambava are red, green or orange. The areas of Maroantsetra and Tamatave yield primarily red specimens.
Numerous other colour phases and patterns occur between and within regions. Females generally remain tan and brown with hints of pink, peach, or bright orange, no matter where they are found, but there are slight differences in patterns and colorus among the different colour phases.
This image was taken on the Island of Nosy Be, off the north coast of Madagascar
Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) ???
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialised clade of Old World lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015. These species come in a range of colours, and many species have the ability to change colour.
Chameleons are distinguished by their zygodactylous feet; their very extensive, highly modified, rapidly extrudable tongues; their swaying gait; and crests or horns on their brow and snout.
Most species, the larger ones in particular, also have a prehensile tail. Chameleons' eyes are independently mobile, but in aiming at a prey item, they focus forward in coordination, affording the animal stereoscopic vision.
Male panther chameleons can grow up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length, panther chameleons have a typical length of around 17 centimetres (6.7 in). Females are smaller, at about half the size. In a form of sexual dimorphism, males are more vibrantly coloured than the females.
Coloration varies with location, and the different colour patterns of panther chameleons are commonly referred to as 'locales', which are named after the geographical location in which they are found.
Panther chameleons from the areas of Nosy Be, Ankify, and Ambanja are typically a vibrant blue, and those from Ambilobe, Antsiranana, and Sambava are red, green or orange. The areas of Maroantsetra and Tamatave yield primarily red specimens.
Numerous other colour phases and patterns occur between and within regions. Females generally remain tan and brown with hints of pink, peach, or bright orange, no matter where they are found, but there are slight differences in patterns and colorus among the different colour phases.
This image was taken on the Island of Nosy Be, off the north coast of Madagascar