Locked and Loaded

What am I looking at?

This is a female veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) about to catch its next meal. You can see its eye (1); tongue (2); and casque (3) – the distinctive crest on its head.

Click on the right arrow to see more views of this chameleon.

Biology in the background

These chameleons are native to the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. Like most chameleons, they can change the color of their skin for camouflage, thermoregulation, and communication with other chameleons. The large casque on their head is an extension of their skull and is thought to fulfill several possible functions. First, it may serve as an attachment point for extra musculature in their jaw, making their bite more powerful. Second, water can be hard to come by in the dry climates where this chameleon lives, but as temperatures cool, water condenses on the increased surface area of the casque and dribbles down into their mouth. Finally, they may store extra fat in their casque, to be metabolized for nutrients if they have to go a long time without food.

Veiled chameleons can grow up to 61 centimeters long (about two feet).

Technique

These images were created using macrophotography.