Classification: Introduced Species

Description: The male is 17 to 24 inches long from the snout to the tip of the tail. The female is shorter, no more than about 14 inches, but it has a thicker body. Both sexes have a casque on the head which grows larger as the chameleon matures, reaching about 2.0 inches in the largest adults. Newly hatched offspring are born pastel green in color and develop stripes and different colors as they mature. 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.

Coloration can be affected by several factors, including social status. In experimental conditions, young veiled chameleons reared in isolation developed to be darker and duller in color compared to those raised with other individuals. Females change color over the course of their reproductive cycles. Chameleons also tend to change to a much darker color when stressed.

Habitat: 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 75 to 95 °F.

Range: The veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) is an arboreal species. It is native to the south western Arabian Peninsula where the climate is semi-arid and tropical. It has been introduced into California and Florida.

Found in these States: CA | FL

Diet: The veiled chameleon is primarily insectivorous. Like other chameleons, the veiled chameleon has the ability to capture large prey but their diets mainly consist of small prey. However, it is one of several chameleon species also known to consume plant matter. This is believed to perhaps be used as a source of water during the dry season.

Reproduction: Veiled chameleons reach sexual maturity at four to five months and breed multiple times in a year. The female lays large clutches of up to 85 white, tough eggs and buries them in sand. 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.

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.

Females are receptive to mating when pale-blue (robin's egg shade) spots appear on their dorsums. They undergo constant clutch cycles that correlate with their hormonal reproductive status.

Male courtship involves exhibiting bright colors, lateral body flattening, body swaying, and tail curling. Males will approach the females and nudge them with their chin while vibrating from an internal origin during contact. The female will then mount the male and the male uses tarsal spurs to caress the female’s flank. Copulation can last anywhere between a few minutes to an hour and can occur several times per day. When copulation is successful, females will darken their green coloration and the intensity of their yellow patterns will increase. If a female is not receptive to the male, her body will turn dark brown to black with white or yellow mottled markings. She may also become aggressive or violent and bite the male if he continues to advance unwanted.

Status: Chamaeleo calyptratus has been assessed as Least Concern owing to its tolerance of a broad range of habitats, including anthropogenic environments. Although included within the pet trade, animals are currently sourced primarily from captive-bred or non-indigenous sources and hence this does not represent a threat to wild populations.

Subspecies: None in our range.

Taxonomy: