Where Do Chameleons Live?

Chameleons are a specific type of lizards, and are extremely specialized. You can identify them and distinguish them from other lizards by certain qualities, such as their zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile eyes, their extremely long tongues, and the horns on their head. Contrary to popular belief, not every species of chameleons can transform or change their colors.

Some chameleons live in the United States, while others might be found in Spain, Africa, or even Asia. They can also be found in a range of habitats, from rain forest to desert. With so many different species, you can find them almost anywhere... but here is a brief summary of some of the different species and geneses of chameleons so you can get an idea of the answer to where do chameleons live.

Brookesia Minima

The Brookesia minima is part of the Brookesia genus of chameleons, and is also called the “dwarf chameleon” or the “minute leaf chameleon.” As you can guess from its colloquial name, this chameleon is extremely small in stature and is considered to be the smallest of the entire chameleon family.

The dwarf chameleon has a flattened head and a triangle of large scales above its eyes. Occasionally, you might see this species sporting yellow stripes across their bodies, which are brown in color. They will only grow to just over one inch for females. The males are slightly smaller than the females, as well as more slender. You can find these chameleons (if you can spot them!) on the island of Madagascar.

Chamaelo Calyptratus

The Chamaelo calyptratus, also known as the veiled chameleon, is found throughout the mountain areas of Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. They are tree dwellers, and thus you will often find them in the branches.

These chameleons possess the ability to alter their colors, depending upon mood. The male’s base color is a vibrant green. However, this can change into a brighter green, or a darker red color. Additionally, this base is covered with stripes and spots of different colors. The females are usually a simple, uniform, green. These chameleons can grow very large in size, with the males growing up to twenty four inches and the females growing up to twelve inches.

Chamaeleo Jacksonii

The Chamaeleo Jacksonii, also known as Jackson’s Chameleon or the Three Horned Chameleon, primarily dwells in Africa. Specifically, you can find these chameleons in Kenya, Tanzania, East Africa, and occasionally Hawaii. They can grow up to about twelve inches in length, and thus are classified as “small to medium size” chameleons. You can identify the males of this species by their three horns—a horn located on the nose, and two horns above the eyes. The females do not have any horns. Both the males and females are green, but can change color depending upon mood and temperature.

Bradypodion Taeniabronchum

The Bradypodion taeniabronchum, also known as Smith’s Dwarf Chameleon or the Elandsberg Dwarf Chameleon, can be found in South Africa. This chameleon is able to change its colors quickly to blend in with surroundings, which it does in order to catch food or respond to danger. Currently, it is a critically endangered species.

Namaqua Chameleon

The Namaqua Chameleon can be found in the Namib Desert located in Namibia, as well as in southern Angola. They are one of the few ground living chameleons, which differentiate them considerably from the majority of tree or bush dwelling chameleons. The females can grow up to about one hundred and sixty millimeters, and are generally larger than the males. This species can change color, but they do some primarily to control their body heat. For example, they will become black during the mornings. This is because the mornings are colder, and thus they can absorb more heat. During the afternoon, when the temperatures are much warmer, they change to a lighter grey.