Female Panther Chameleon
About half the world’s species of chameleons live on the island of Madagascar.
Scientists believe that chameleons were not among the castaways, following the splitting of the island from Africa and India. Instead, they most likely originated on the island itself.
Madagascar chameleons have fused toes which help them to live in trees. When they move around on a tree branch, their toes—acting like tongs—can tightly grip the branches.
Something else is unusual about Madagascar chameleons. Their legs are beneath their body ... a strange fact for this type of reptile. The position of their legs, however, allows them to walk along branches which are thinner than their bodies.
This image depicts a female panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) as it appeared in Anjajavy Forest, Madagascar, on the 29th of October, 2013.
Panther chameleons are among the biggest of Madagascar’s chameleon species.
The photo, seen above, is by Charles J. Sharp.