Parson’s

Chameleon

Calumma parsonii

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IUCN Red List status:

Near Threatened

For more info on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org

Diet

These chameleons eat leaves, twigs, flies, butterflies, and other insects.

Habitat

Parson's chameleons live in elevated locations (tree canopies), within humid forests in Madagascar

Fun Fact

Amazingly, they can move their eyes independently and focus on two things at once!

Fun Fact

Parson's chameleons can grow up to 68cm long and weigh up to 700g

Fun Fact

Their toes are fused together!

These astonishing animals are famous for being able to change colour to match their background, allowing them to conceal against potential predators.

The Parson’s chameleon is one of the world’s largest chameleons and is named in after a British physician named James Parsons, born in 1705.

This chameleon captures its prey by shooting out its long, sticky tongue and using it as a suction cup.

As with all chameleons, this beautiful species can change colour in response to their surroundings,
temperature and when they are in the presence of other chameleons, especially during mating or
fighting. Their slow movement and camouflage enable the predators to catch prey off-guard.

Sadly this species is near threatened with extinction. The population of Parson’s chameleon has
declined by 20% in less than two decades. This decline is mainly due to habitat loss driven by
slash-and burn agriculture and logging. Their habitat is fragmented and the fragments are unlikely
to be viable enough for this stunning species to survive.

RIGHT NOW, our conservationists are battling to protect habitats in Madagascar

This chameleons tongue is twice the length of its body!

Female Parson's chameleons can lay up to 50 eggs at a time.

Their population has declined by 20% in less than 20 years