Kids ASK! about Pets & Animals

If you think that the chameleon changes its colour to match the place which it is standing, then you are wrong!

The chameleon’s usual colour can match the environment that it spends most of its time. So why does it change its skin colour? The chameleon changes its colour due to changes in environmental factors such as light and temperature. Its colour also reflects its emotions such as fright and those associated with victory or defeat in a battle with another chameleon. A male chameleon will also change its colour to attract a female.

There are many species of chameleons and each species can change its skin colour to a particular range of colours. Many chameleons are capable of turning their skin to green, yellow, cream or brown. Some of them can even turn to more striking colours like red and blue.

Other interesting facts about the chameleon:
- it can grow to 60 cm (24 inches) long.
- many species are found only on the island of Madagascar.
- its tongue can be longer than its body length.

Sources:
i) chameleon. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 28, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition:

http://library.ebonline.com/eb/article-9022335

ii) Miller, Jake (2003). The Chameleon. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

Read these books to find out more about the chameleon:

Chameleons and other animals with amazing skin by Susan LaBella.
Call number: JP 573.5 LAB

Chameleon, chameleon by Joy Cowley.
Call number: JP 597.95 COW

The chameleon by Jake Miller.
Call number: J 597.95 MIL

For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

All book covers were extracted from www.barnesandnoble.com.

Posted by Adeline Tan
Librarian
Children’s Services.

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