About Chamaeleo africanus Laurenti, 1768
The African chameleon (Chamaeleo africanus Laurenti, 1768) is a slow-moving chameleon species with a laterally flattened body, reaching a maximum total length of 46 cm (18 in). It has bulbous eyes that can move independently of one another, and a prehensile tail. It closely resembles the common chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) in appearance, but lacks flaps at the back of the head and grows to a larger size. It is often green with numerous black spots, and like other chameleons, it can change its body color. It has a large bony casque on its head and long limbs; males of this species have tarsal spurs. This chameleon is native to most of the Sahel region, spanning from Mali and Mauritania east to Sudan. Its range extends north along the Nile River into Egypt, though it may have been introduced to the Egyptian part of its range. The species has also been brought from Egypt to the Peloponnese. It inhabits dry savanna environments.
