When it comes to stealthy hunting, the chameleon takes some beating. This strange-looking lizard moves with slow, deliberate action and has a number of remarkable skills. It can catch and swallow its prey in a fraction of a second – one twenty-fifth, to be precise. It can look in two directions at once. And most celebrated of all, it can change its colour and markings to blend in with the background. This makes it almost impossible to see.
To do this the chameleon has special colour cells in its skin. It can look more brown or green, lighter or darker whatever is needed to match the surrounding foliage.
The chameleon’s camouflage makes it very difficult to spot, but it also has amazing eyesight of its own. It can move its eyes independently and in any direction. So while one eye is scanning upwards in search of food, the other can be watching out for insects moving below.
It is even tougher for an insect that a chameleon does spot. Its long sticky tongue, sometimes as long as its body, can shoot with deadly accuracy and incredible speed. Insects can be caught and whipped back into the chameleon’s mouth in almost less time than it takes us to blink.
Picture Credit : Google
