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In the reptile world there are some bizarre shapes and colors. Some of the most striking variations are found in the chameleons. These colorful lizards are known for their ability to change their color, their long sticky tongue, and for their eyes, which can be moved independently of each other. Chameleons spend their lives in the trees and bushes. Most lizards have five toes, but the chameleon's five toes are zygodactylous so they can grasp branches just like our thumbs and fingers can grasp objects. The chameleon's tail also helps with life up high: most have a prehensile tail that can wrap around tree branches while climbing. For this reason, the chameleon's tail cannot be broken off and regrown like those of many other lizards.

The chameleon's eyes are the most distinctive among the reptiles. Each eye has a scaly lid shaped like a cone, with only a small, round opening in the middle for the pupil. The chameleon can rotate and focus its eyes separately to look at two different objects at the same time! This gives it a full 360-degree view around its body. When the chameleon sees prey, both eyes can focus in the same direction to get a clearer view.

How chameleons change color is a fascinating and complicated process. First of all, they don't really change color to match their surroundings, and they cannot change to any and all colors. For example, if a chameleon is sitting on a red-and-white polka dot tablecloth, it will not turn red and develop round white spots! Chameleons don't look at what they're sitting on and deliberately decide to match it. Instead, each species of chameleon has a group of patterns and colors that it is able to display; some of these patterns are designed for camouflage. The skin color changes under the influence of the lizard's mood, such as fear or anger, the amount of light, and the temperature or humidity. The changing skin color also plays an important role in communication among males.