CHAMELEON

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Chameleons (family Chamaeleonidae Rafinesque, 1815) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of native Old World lizards, comprising 202 species.

Chameleons vary greatly in size, ranging from 3 to over 60 cm.
The chameleon's fingers serve as pincers to hold onto branches firmly.
The front paws have two claws on the outer toe and three on the inner toe, while the hind paws have the reverse number.
Chameleons' eyes are unique in the animal world.
They can rotate and focus independently of each other; without moving, the chameleon is able to observe its surroundings in 360°.
When targeting prey, the chameleon turns both eyes towards it.
The eyes are almost entirely covered by the eyelids.
Chameleons have incredibly long tongues (sometimes longer than their own bodies, up to almost twice their length) and are able to extend them very quickly because they are equipped with extremely elastic muscles.
After retracting it completely onto the bone at the base of the tongue, they instantly release it with a spring effect.
Thanks to the suction cup at the tip of its tongue, it is able to capture its prey (it is mistakenly believed that this is due to its sticky saliva).
As soon as the prey is struck, it is retracted and the insect is quickly chewed by the chameleon's strong, serrated teeth (a small chameleon can easily eat even a large locust or mantis).
Chameleons do not have a vomeronasal organ.
Like snakes, they have no ears.
Some species, on the other hand, appear to communicate through vibrations in the branches and appear to be deaf.

ATTENTION!!!
Chameleons are often mentioned in connection with CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) because their trade is regulated.
Many chameleon species are listed on CITES Appendix II, which requires specific documents for legal trade, such as panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) and calyptratus chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus).
The purchase of exotic animals must comply with this legislation, which aims to protect species from overexploitation and illegal trade.