Subscribe Now! National Geographic Magazine $15
Visit our Online Shops

Sign up for free

Newsletters

Once a month
get new photos
and expert tips.

Meller's Chameleon
Chamaeleo melleri

Photo: Meller's chameleon on a branch
Meller's chameleons are also called "giant one-horned chameleons" because of their large size and the small horn protruding from the front of their snouts.
Photograph by Marian Bacon/Animals Animals—Earth Scenes

Meller's Chameleon Profile

The Meller's chameleon is the largest of the chameleons not native to Madagascar. Their stout bodies can grow to be up to two feet (two-thirds of a meter) long and weigh more than a pound (one-half kilogram).

Meller's distinguish themselves from their universally bizarre-looking cousins with a single small horn protruding from the front of their snouts. This and their size earn them the common name "giant one-horned chameleon."

They are fairly common in the savanna of East Africa, including Malawi, northern Mozambique, and Tanzania. Almost one-half of the world’s chameleons live on the island of Madagascar.

As with all chameleons, Meller's will change colors in response to stress and to communicate with other chameleons. Their normal appearance is deep green with yellow stripes and random black spots. Females are slightly smaller, but are otherwise indistinguishable from males.

They subsist on insects and small birds, using their camouflage and a lightning-fast, catapulting tongue, which can be up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) long, to ambush prey.

Exotic pet enthusiasts often attempt to keep Meller's chameleons as pets. However, they are highly susceptible to even the slightest level of stress and are very difficult to care for in captivity. In the wild, they can live as long as 12 years.

Fast Facts

Type: Reptile
Diet: Carnivore
Average lifespan in the wild: 12 years
Size: 21 in (50 cm)
Weight: 14.4 oz (408 g)
Did you know? Chameleons don't change colors to match their surroundings. Each species displays distinct color patterns to indicate specific reactions or emotions.
Size relative to a tea cup:
Illustration of the animal's relative size

Multimedia

Reptile Features

Photo: King cobra

King Cobra

Come face-to-face with a full-size king cobra.

Photo: Stilt birds and iguana by a river

Photo of the Day: Crazy Legs

See stilt birds tiptoeing around a green iguana on the grasslands of Venezuela's Orinoco River.

Photo: Nile crocodile

Kids: Crocodile Creature Feature

Get fun facts on Nile crocodiles, plus video, audio, photos, and more at National Geographic's Kids site.

Other Reptiles

Map: Locator map for the Meller's chameleon
 Meller's Chameleon range

Special Advertising Sections

Photo: Horses and old barn

Enter Sweepstakes

Take a photographic journey through Montana and enter for a chance to win a trip for two!

Photo: Glass of water

Take Quiz

Eighteen percent of the world's population can't get safe drinking water. Test your water knowledge.

Reptiles Right Rail

Get the Latest Headlines

Photo: Three-horned chameleon

Make us your online news source.

Get Animal Pictures

Photo: Nile crocodile

Get your daily dose of photos.

Bring Your Phone to Life

Image: Mobile phone and giraffe

Put the sights and sounds of National Geographic on your mobile phone.

For Kids!

Photo: A cartoon dog

It's no stretch to find fun facts on our Kids site!

Shop National Geographic DVDs

Photo: Human Footprint DVD cover

Whatever your interest, you'll be entertained and educated with our collection of best-selling DVDs.