Chamaeleo calyptratus
Duméril, 1851
kuh-MAY-lee-oh — cah-LIP-trah-tus
SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
Native to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula to Yemen. It was introduced via the pet trade and is established in Florida and Hawai'i. In Florida, it was first introduced via the pet trade prior to 2004 in Fort Myers, Lee County (Krysko et al., 2004, Florida Scientist 67: 249–253) but has since been introduced in other areas in the peninsula (Enge and Krysko, 2019, Chamaeleo calyptratus. Pages 357–359 in Krysko et al. (Editors) Amphibians and Reptiles of Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida). In Hawai’i, it established during the 2000s; 59 individuals were removed from a 1.5 ha area on Maui (Kraus and Duvall, 2004, Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 79: 63.
(Krysko, Kenneth and Travis W. Taggart. 2025. Established Exotic Species. Pages 64-87 in Kirsten E. Nicholson (Editor), Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 9th Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas. 87 pp.)
Errata/Changes: Page 74: The Krause and Duvall (2004) reference lacks its closing parenthesis. — (4/9/2025)
Range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH.
(Created by Travis W. Taggart; Version: 2025.03.31.07.57.24)
Download GeoJSON polygon range file: - 0.06 MB
Province/State Distribution:
Taxonomic Etymology:
A chameleon with a casque or helmet-like crest.
Chamaeleo — From Greek khamai (χαμαί), “on the ground” or “dwarf,” and leon (λέων), “lion”—together meaning “ground lion” or “dwarf lion,” likely referring to the fierce appearance despite small size.
calyptratus — From Greek kalyptēr (καλύπτρα), “cover” or “veil.” Refers to the high casque (helmet or veil) on the top of the head, particularly in males.
First instance(s) of published English names:
No historic English names have been assigned to this taxon yet.
Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles
The Reptile Database
GenBank
USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
Selected References:
|
1851
|
Dumeril, A. M. Constant and Auguste H. A. Dumeril. Catalogue méthodique de la collection des reptiles du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris. [Methodical catalog of the reptile collection of the Natural History Museum of Paris.] Gide et Baudry, Paris, France. 224pp.
|
|
2004
|
Krysko, Kenneth L., Kevin M. Enge, and F. Wayne King. The veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus Duméril and Bibron 1851 (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae): A new exotic species in Florida. Florida Scientist 67:249–253
|
|
2004
|
Kraus, Fred , Duvall, F. New records of alien reptiles and amphibians in Hawai'i. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 79:62-64
|
|
2006
|
Meshaka, Walter E. An update on the list of Florida's exotic amphibian and reptile species. Journal of Kansas Herpetology 19:16-17
|
|
2012
|
Gillette, C. R., and Kenneth L. Krysko. New county record for the veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus Dumeril and Bibron 1851 (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae), in Florida. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians 19:130–131
|
|
2014
|
Edwards, J. R., Michael R. Rochford, F. J. Mazzotti, and Kenneth L. Krysko. New county record for the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus Duméril and Bibron 1851), in Broward County, Florida, with notes on intentional introductions of chameleons in southern Florida. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians 21:83–85
|
|
2019
|
Krysko, Kenneth L., Kevin M. Enge, and Paul E. Moler (Editor) Amphibians and Reptiles of Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. 728pp.
|