Chamaeleon showing protective colouration
Varanus showing mimicry
Garden lizard (Calotes) showing camouflage
Hemidactylus showing sexual dimorphism
The common chameleon, like others of its family, enjoys an arboreal habitat, scrambling about in trees and bushes with feet that have four toes, two on each side for grasping branches. It also uses its prehensile tail to maintain balance and stability. Movement is usually leisurely, often with a slight swaying motion to avoid detection by predators. The colour of the common chameleon is variable, between yellow/brown through green to a dark brown. Whatever the background colour is, the common chameleon will have two light-coloured lines along its side.