Senegal chameleon

Description

The Senegal chameleon, Chamaeleo senegalensis, is a species of chameleon native to West Africa. Its range includes Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, and Cameroon, and it lives in moist savanna. Due to its wide range and unknown population, the Senegal chameleon is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. However, it may be threatened by the pet trade.The Senegal chameleon is usually olive brown, and ranges from 20 to 30 cm in length, although the male is usually smaller. Chamaeleo is a genus of chameleons in the family Chamaeleonidae. Most species of the genus Chamaeleo are found in sub-Saharan Africa, but a few species are also present in northern Africa, southern Europe, and southern Asia east to India and Sri Lanka. Species in the genus Chamaeleo are slow moving, with independently movable eyes, the ability to change skin colouration, a long tongue, usually a prehensile tail, and special leg adaptations for grasping vegetation. Males are generally larger and more colorful than females. Almost all species have a maximum snout-vent length (SVL) between 15 and 40 centimetres (5.9 and 15.7 in). The vast majority of Chamaeleo species are arboreal and typically found in trees or bushes, but a few species (notably the Namaqua Chameleon) are partially or largely terrestrial. The genus Chamaeleo includes only oviparous species. With few exceptions, the chameleons most commonly seen in captivity are all members of the genus Chamaeleo, notably the common, Senegal, and veiled chameleons, but even they require special care.