Currently weighing in at a little over 20g each, Pickle and Skittles are still small but their impact on reptile-lovers will be mighty.
The little lizards recently moved into their new homes, with Pickle heading into in the Australian Reptile Encounter and Skittles behind-the-scenes in our education classroom.
Veiled Chameleons are native to the Arabian Peninsula, in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, and are one of over 200 species of chameleon.
While they are known for their fascinating ability to change colour, there are many other characteristics that make this species so unique.
1. Colourful critters
Veiled Chameleons have the ability to change colour in a matter of seconds. This is due to their special pigmented cells and can occur for many reasons including:
When they first hatch, Veiled Chameleons are a pastel green colour. But as they begin to mature, their colours start to change in response to their environment.
2. 360-degree view
Their cone-shaped, scaly eyes give them a 360-view of the world around them and allows them to focus on two different objects at exactly the same time. By rotating each eye separately, Veiled Chameleons can cleverly keep an eye out for danger, or focus on a single object for enhanced depth perception and clarity.
3. Long sticky tongue
Being slow moving by nature, Veiled Chameleons rely on their long sticky tongue to quickly capture food. A Veiled Chameleon can extend its tongue to about 1-2 times its body length. A sticky ball of muscle at the end of its tongue acts as a suction cup, drawing in insects, before crushing them with its jaw.
4. Riding solo
Veiled Chameleons are solitary by nature, meaning they prefer to live alone. Males can be particularly territorial and will show signs of aggression if they feel under threat.
You can see Pickle or Skittles during your next visit by checking out the Australian Reptile Encounter or booking our
behind-the-scenes Bush Buddies experience.