What is CHAMELEON FOREST DRAGON?
These forest dragons typically have green or brown bodies with orange and tan markings. The name “Chameleon” implies that they are a true chameleon, but in reality, they are not as these dragons can still change color to blend into their habitat.
Physical Description
The Chameleon Forest Dragon is a popular species of dragon that has short, laterally-compressed bodies with pronounced vertebral keels. They tend to be green in color but Sumatran specimens like those at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are brown.
I’m so glad that forest dragon myths now have scientific backing. I remember when dragons were supposed to be full of mystery and magic, but now we know they can exist in real life! What are some other myths you’ve had questions about? They have a long, thin body and five, scissor-like limbs that end in a single claw.
They may be called chameleon forest dragons, but they are not true chameleons. Chameleons change color to blend in with their surroundings, but these dragon species’ ability to shift colors is not on the same level as a true chameleon’s. Forest dragons are beautiful, bright, and often show warning colors when threatened. 🙂
Size
There are two types of chameleon forest dragons: males have a length that ranges from 12.7cm to 15.3cm and females, whose length would range from 10.1cm to 12.7cm. There are eleven species of chameleon forest dragons:
– “Furcifer Vernalis” (horned chameleon forest dragon)
– “Chamaeleo Ursinus” (both horned and golden chameleon forest dragon)
– “Panthera pardus pardus” (leopard)
-“Panthera pardus de Paula
-Lopes” (black panther)
– “Panthera pardus Kruger” (white lion)
– “Leptailurus serval” (serval)
– “Leopardus pardalis serval”
The chameleon forest dragon has a head and neck that is elongated, and its skull has a long, curved snout. It has three short horns on the top of its head and two long horns on the side of its head.
The chameleon forest dragon is light to dark brown with a cream-colored underbelly spotted with brown dots. The “chameleon forest dragon” is a pale color variant of the regular green “Forest Dragon” that was released by the manufacturer in 2009.
Native Habitat
We can’t forget that the chameleon forest dragon is a species that lives in wet, tropical forests. They are typically found clinging to the trunks and branches of trees. Maybe you should think about visiting them someday!
Food/Eating Habits
These lizards primarily eat insects, including worms, caterpillars, and crickets. They will also eat what they can while they are in their natural surroundings of the tropical rainforest.
Scientists at the National Zoo place earthworms, crickets, and chameleon forest dragon food into separate little holes. in a log, which the lizard then goes to and starts eating. The habitat of “Varanus varius” is in the tropical rainforest. Their natural food consists of insects, including worms, caterpillars, and crickets.
Reproduction and Development
It’s not fully known how the natural breeding habits of forest dragons are, but it’s been learned that they are oviparous lizards, meaning that they lay eggs that then hatch. They typically lay between two and six eggs in a ground nest. The eggs incubate for about 70 days.
Lifespan
Captive chameleon forest dragons live a long life in human care. It is unknown how long they live in the wild.
