Veiled chameleon

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Veiled chameleon
Chamaeleo calyptratus Esapolis 01.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Chamaeleo
C. calyptratus
Binomial name
Chamaeleo calyptratus
Chamaeleo calyptratus distribution.png

The veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) is a species of chameleon (family Chamaeleonidae) native to the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Other common names include cone-head chameleon and Yemen chameleon.[1]


The male is 43 to 61 cm (17 to 24 in) long from the snout to the tip of the tail. The female is shorter, no more than about 35 cm (14 in), but it has a thicker body. Both sexes have a casque on the head which grows larger as the chameleon matures, reaching about 5 cm (2.0 in) in the largest adults. Newly hatched young are pastel green in color and develop stripes as they grow. Adult females are green with white, orange, yellow, or tan mottling. Adult males are brighter with more defined bands of yellow or blue and some mottling.[2]

At Blumengärten Hirschstetten, Vienna, Austria

Coloration can be affected by several factors, including social status. In experimental conditions, young veiled chameleons reared in isolation are darker and duller in color than those raised with other individuals.[3] Females change color across their reproductive cycles.[4] Chameleons also tend to change to a much darker color when stressed.[2]


Behavior and ecology[edit]

This chameleon lives in a number of habitat types in its native range, including plateaus, mountains, and valleys. Like most other chameleons, it is arboreal, living in trees and other large plants. It prefers warmer temperature, generally between 24 to 35 °C (75 to 95 °F).[2]

The veiled chameleon is primarily insectivorous. It is one of several chameleon species also known to consume plant matter, perhaps as a source of water during the dry season.[2]

The lifespan is about 5 years for females, and up to 8 years for males. They reach sexual maturity at four to five months. They breed more than once a year. The female lays large clutches of up to 85 eggs and buries them in sand. The eggs are white with a tough skin.[2] The embryos experience a diapause, a length of time when they are dormant in the egg before they begin developing. Increasing temperatures in the substrate initiate development.[5]

Males display for females during courtship, performing behaviors such as "head rolls" and "chin rubs". Females change color when they are receptive to breeding, and males are more likely to court them during this time.[4]

In captivity[edit]

The veiled chameleon is the most common Chamaeleo species in the pet trade. It is easy to breed and prolific in its egg production. It tolerates a range of conditions and survives well in captivity.[2]

Invasive species[edit]

This chameleon is an introduced species in Hawaii, where it is invasive in the local ecosystem. There is a breeding population established on Maui.[6] It can also be found in the wild in Florida, where escaped pets have established populations.[1] As well as the destruction of animal warehouses during hurricane Andrew in 1992.


The veiled chameleon is the logo of the SUSE Linux operating system.[7][8]



  1. ^ a b c Wilms, T., R. Sindaco, and M. Shobrak. 2012. Chamaeleo calyptratus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. Downloaded on 23 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Veiled Chameleon. Archived 2011-12-17 at the Wayback Machine Smithsonian National Zoological Park.
  3. ^ Ballen, C., et al. (2014). Effects of early social isolation on the behaviour and performance of juvenile lizards, Chamaeleo calyptratus. Animal Behaviour 88 1-6.
  4. ^ a b Kelso, E. C. and P. A. Verrell. (2002). Do male veiled chameleons, Chamaeleo calyptratus, adjust their courtship displays in response to female reproductive status? Ethology 108(6) 495-512.
  5. ^ Andrews, R. M. and S. Donoghue. (2004). Effects of temperature and moisture on embryonic diapause of the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus). Journal of Experimental Zoology 301A 629-35.
  6. ^ Detecting the Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) on Maui: Enhancing Control of an Injurious Species. First Progress Report. Maui Invasive Species Committee.
  7. ^ Linux Questions: What kind of lizard is the SUSE mascot
  8. ^ "Veiled Chameleon Care". Thursday, 14 November 2019

Further reading[edit]

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