Chameleons

(Movie)
The chameleons (Chamaeleonidae), also Wurmzüngler, are a family within the category of reptiles (Reptilia).

Currently there are about 160 different species, which are divided into two subfamilies split: The Real chameleons (Chamaeleoninae) and the Stummelschwanzchamäleons (Brookesiinae). Almost all chameleons are in their natural habitat at risk, which is why they are under the Endangered Species Convention, and thus must also be reported.

Dissemination
Originally, the chameleons came from East Africa. Their diversity, however, was in West Africa and Madagascar. Nowadays it on the whole of the African continent, especially in Madagascar and in the Mediterranean area, but also in India and Sri Lanka, Turkey, together with the Arab peninsula. Nevertheless, the focus of the main distribution room on Africa, (except North) and Madagascar. As previously on the earth was a warmer climate, the lizards were found even in today's Germany, where fossils have been found, which so. But it is unclear whether this is its own kind, or "immigrants" from the south.

While the Stummelschwanzchamäleons (Brookesia) occur only in Madagascar and the Erdchamäleons (Rhampholeon) only in the equatorial Africa are encountered, the real chameleons (Chamaeleonidae) in all the above-mentioned countries.


Habitat
The habitat is at each subfamily different. The real chameleons are bush and tree dwellers. The body has life in the well-adjusted amount (Grief tail, gripping feet). Nevertheless, there are a few species that inhabit the soil. The earth or Stummelschwanzchamäleons is, as the name suggests, the leafy and herb layer as a habitat preferred. Moreover, the animals developed many ecological zones. In the north of the Sahara live in the desert oases of some species, unlike chameleons who live in extreme cold, like Chamaeleo schubotzi is at the limit of snowfall 4500 metre high Mount Kenya alive. Another example is Bradypodion occidentale, which the shellfish gravel dunes of South-West Africa inhabited. There it is not only very hot, but also because of the bright soil and the sun bright reflection gleißend

Nevertheless, it is difficult to a certain kind of a unique habitat, simply because of the differences innerartliche habitat millennia have emerged. These are large differences in humidity and ambient temperature.

Build
Chameleons can in their body shape vary greatly (physiophren). This makes it quite difficult for some species to accurately determine. The forms are of age and sex dependent. Celebrations features are mostly the horns and muzzle-progress records. There are species that are very small-beaked progress rates (Calumma nasutum), or animals with a huge "teeth" (Calumma parsonii). For the innerartliche detect these processes is essential. In addition, there are various types of horns. A kind, Chamaeleo quadricornis gracilior, has up to six horns, Chamaeleo johnstoni only three.

In addition, the Lizards occipital lobe. These lobes are abgespreizt to greater effect. This will enable potential enemies away.

Characteristic features are the various ridges. Those Combs to come back, stomach and throat. The back ridge is variable. Either there are cone scales, spines or to a dorsal spinal erinnerndes sails, such as Chamaeleo cristatus. Kehlkämme belly and are now clear distinguishing characteristics.

The head located on the helmet is another characteristic. It is up to 8 cm high. He has the function of the outline of chameleons to change so that it was no longer recognizable as such.

Just as varied as the characteristics is the body size, while the males are usually larger than the females. The giant chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti) reaches a maximum total length of about 68 cm, in contrast, is Brookesia minima with 3.5 cm smallest chameleon.

The entire body of true chameleons, for a life in the trees oriented, although some species almost exclusively terrestrial living Chamaeleo namaquensis. With her body to mimic different parts of plants. The real chameleons remind her body with a sheet, which Erdchamäleons an old wood or hardwood (especially Brookesia decaeyi). Furthermore, the feet reshaped tongs with which surround each branch. Some species have claws addition to the more secure grip. The feet have a special structure: Overall, each foot with five toes equipped with two and three toes to grow together. These are the rear feet precisely reversed in order to Vorderfüßen (2-3 3-2). In addition to the feet, the tail Grief climbing. However, he is only in the real chameleons to grasping pronounced. The importance of this tail is the lack of ability to tail off and regenerate (Autotomie) illustrates. Unlike the real chameleons, the tail at the Erdchamäleons a rather insignificant. He is relatively immobile and has only one type Abstützfunktion.

A special feature is the ability, in a case from the tree lungs out there, so they catch the fall.

Eye
Chameleon eyes are a very typical characteristic of lizards. They are considered very high and are better than the human eye. They also have a lens, however, is only the pupil visible. Cornea and other parts are surrounded by schuppenartigen eyelids, some with the eyeball to grow. The visual acuity, the cornea causes. By Lidloch and the pupil is also an effect that is most likely with a pinhole camera is comparable. This effect brings additional clarity. This allows the chameleon to up to one kilometer away sharply. Thus, the animal quickly detect potential enemies and protecting the foliage. Another special feature is a natural "shades". On the cones of the retina, which incidentally a sign of Tagaktivität and color vision, it may be tiny Öltropfen anlagern the adjacent protect optic nerves, by the diminishing light penetration. Another capability that only the chameleons is reserved, is in the independent movement of the eyes. They are so arranged that the Sehfelder not overlap to a picture, but always two individual images. But we know today, as the two images are processed.


The unusual movement of the eyes is caused by a complex muscle apparatus.

The daily use of the eye follows a fixed pattern and applies to any Chamäleonart:

* First, independently searched the whole environment.
* If a prey animal found, it will be with both eyes focused.

If you look into the eyes closer, we find that they actually stick out his head. As a result, the field of vision dramatically increased. On a vertical level, the field of vision is 90 degrees to 180 degrees horizontal level. There is a clear field of vision of 342 degrees. This creates a dead angle of 18 °, the only part of the back.

Apart from the aspect of seeing the eye has also the function of innerartlichen communication. The colouring of the eyes will be lots mating willingness or recognition within the type signals.

To sleep, the eyes lowered down and the pupils in a skin fold shot, in which she drives with horn protected. Some species can also use the entire eye in the head retreat.

Tongue
Also typical of chameleons, their distinctive Schleuderzunge. It is unique in nature. It may have its traction force of 0.42169 Newton (N) up (Dischnerscher experiment with Chamaeleo montinum 1958)

The tongue is in the throat bag on the tongue leg, a sesame leg together. It is not up, but with a short piece of rubber band comparable.

The tongue leg is equipped with two joints, the entire bone, push forward. In the case of a Zungenschusses the tongue leg forward and shoved the tense muscles of the tongue, making the tongue from the mouth herausschnellt. This process is done in a tenth of a second. As a result, the prey no chance to escape.

For the prey animal with the tongue back into the mouth plummeting, it is wetted with a secretion. This is not sticky secretion, but helps with a large surface tension only the prey to adhere to the tongue. Moreover, the end of the tongue thickened and is divided into two lobes. This is then surrounded the victim.

The five phases of the Zungenschusses:

* 1 The prey is fixated on size, shape and type examined, determining the distance between hunters and Gejagtem
* 2 The mouth opens slowly, the tongue is being prepared and a piece shoved to the front
* 3 The tongue is shot down
* 4 The prey animal will be taken
* 5 The loot is drawn into the mouth, the foot down, while the tongue in the throat sack retires. Then the prey as a whole hinuntergeschluckt

Also for the water absorption is the tongue. Some species licking the water from leaves and the like, some use it as a water pipe, by the tongue of branches or leaves lay on the water. Then it is down to the tongue directly into the mouth.

Species that prey on slow as snails specialised, the need Tongue shot. They take the spoils directly with the mouth.

Wikipedia