Common chameleon

Common chameleon

Scientific name: Chamaeleo chamaeleon
Situation in the wild: Vulnerable
Situation in Israel: Vulnerable
Jerusalem Zoo: Exhibit at the Small Animal Building
The various habitats of the Common chameleon are in Southern Iberia (Spain and Portugal), Mediterranean islands, North-Africa, southern Turkey, south-western Arabia and the Middle-East. There are two sub-species in Israel – northern and southern. The southern sub-species in threatened by habitat loss, off-road vehicle activity and collection. Chameleons spend most of their time on trees or bushes and their main prey is insects. Chameleons catch their prey with their sticky tongue. The tongue is extremely long and can even be longer than their body! "Shooting" the tongue towards the prey is so fast that the human eye can hardly notice it. They are solitary animals. Chameleons have only three types of pigment cells – yellow/red, blue and black. Combinations of these colors create the variety of observed colors. Yellow and blue, for example, give chameleons their green color.
Together with academic researchers, the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is leading a genetic research of the various sub-species that are vulnerable in Israel. An initial estimation of the possibilities of reintroduction and survivability of specimens raised in zoos is being examined.

(Photo: Tamar Raviv)

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