Parson's chameleon

Calumma parsonii

Range

Endemic to eastern and northeastern Madagascar; recorded from sea level to approximately 2,134 m.

Habitat

Arboreal in forest habitats.

Diet

Primarily insectivorous and an ambush predator; reported prey includes mantises, beetles, moths and cockroaches, with occasional small vertebrates and plant material.

Facts

• Its eyes can move independently, allowing the chameleon to inspect different parts of its surroundings at the same time. Adults commonly show green-based coloration and bright orange eyes.
• It hunts by ambush, with reported prey including mantises, beetles, moths and cockroaches. Small vertebrates and plant material are also occasionally reported.
• During the day, individuals bask and shift between sun and shade; near dusk they usually settle to roost in trees.
• Females bury their eggs and leave them underground. Incubation commonly lasts about a year, but a captive report recorded hatching after 781 days.
• The species is assessed as Near Threatened and is listed in CITES Appendix II, an international trade-control category.

Research sources

• GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
• ReptTraits — Calumma parsonii
• Calumma parsonii (Parson’s chameleon)
• IUCN Species Annual Report 2016–2017