Chameleon in the Wild in Madagascar | BBC Photography
Origin
Panther chameleons come from the island of Madagascar which is off the cost of Africa. It is a fascinating island full of natural beauty and home to some of the most diverse and interesting wildlife in the world!
Panther Chameleon Locales
Panther chameleons can be found in many different parts of the island and the different colors and patterns of the male chameleons observed can tell us which region they are from. For example, the bright, beautiful, multi-colored Ambilobe chameleons are from the district of Ambilobe while the Nosy Boraha chameleons that look like big puffy clouds are from the locale of Nosy Boraha (see images below)!
Note: It is impossible to tell what locale a female chameleon is from as most of them are variations of brown, peach and white. Some of them are very beautiful in their own right, however it is the males that display the tell-tale colors of the locale in which they are from.
Panther chameleons come from the island of Madagascar which is off the cost of Africa. It is a fascinating island full of natural beauty and home to some of the most diverse and interesting wildlife in the world!
Panther Chameleon Locales
Panther chameleons can be found in many different parts of the island and the different colors and patterns of the male chameleons observed can tell us which region they are from. For example, the bright, beautiful, multi-colored Ambilobe chameleons are from the district of Ambilobe while the Nosy Boraha chameleons that look like big puffy clouds are from the locale of Nosy Boraha (see images below)!
Note: It is impossible to tell what locale a female chameleon is from as most of them are variations of brown, peach and white. Some of them are very beautiful in their own right, however it is the males that display the tell-tale colors of the locale in which they are from.
Ambilobe Panther Chameleon
Nosy Boraha Panther Chameleon | Photo credit, Canvas Chameleons
Check out the poster below, created by Highlighter Chameleons, to see how male panther chameleons vary in appearance depending on the locale!
Panther Chameleon Locale Identification Poster | Image credit, Highlighter Chameleons
Lifespan
In captivity the average life span of panther chameleons is 5-8 years. Males have a slightly larger life-span than females.
Size and Weight
Males are typically 12- 18 inches long and weigh between 140-180 grams. Females are smaller measuring approximately 10-15 inches long and weigh between 60-100 grams.
Females and Egg Laying
Healthy female panther chameleons will lay eggs regardless of whether or not mating has taken place. On average they will lay anywhere from 10 to 40 eggs several times a year. When females are not gravid with eggs they are usually a pale peach color with some iridescent blue, green or purple accents as seen in the first picture below. When females are gravid they display black, dark brown and orange colors as seen in the second picture.
In captivity the average life span of panther chameleons is 5-8 years. Males have a slightly larger life-span than females.
Size and Weight
Males are typically 12- 18 inches long and weigh between 140-180 grams. Females are smaller measuring approximately 10-15 inches long and weigh between 60-100 grams.
Females and Egg Laying
Healthy female panther chameleons will lay eggs regardless of whether or not mating has taken place. On average they will lay anywhere from 10 to 40 eggs several times a year. When females are not gravid with eggs they are usually a pale peach color with some iridescent blue, green or purple accents as seen in the first picture below. When females are gravid they display black, dark brown and orange colors as seen in the second picture.
Female panther chameleon, NOT gravid
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Gravid female panther chameleon
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Why Chameleons Change Colors
Perhaps one of the most fascinating things about panther chameleons is their ability to change colors! It is a common myth that chameleons can change colors to match their surroundings. While many species of chameleons change into different variants of green and brown, a few species, such as panther chameleons have the ability to change many different colors.
However, this is not to match their environment. As mentioned above, male panther chameleons will display the colors of the locality they originate from in Madagascar. But even within each locality, the same chameleon can display a wide range of colors as seen in the pictures below. But why does this happen? And how?
Perhaps one of the most fascinating things about panther chameleons is their ability to change colors! It is a common myth that chameleons can change colors to match their surroundings. While many species of chameleons change into different variants of green and brown, a few species, such as panther chameleons have the ability to change many different colors.
However, this is not to match their environment. As mentioned above, male panther chameleons will display the colors of the locality they originate from in Madagascar. But even within each locality, the same chameleon can display a wide range of colors as seen in the pictures below. But why does this happen? And how?
Ambilobe panther chameleon Rio, relaxed and ready for sleep
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Ambilobe panther chameleon, Rio beginning to fire up
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Ambilobe panther chameleon Rio, almost fully fired up
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Color changes in panther chameleons are a result of a change in temperature, their mood, mating, and in females, as mentioned above, becoming gravid with eggs.