Also known as leopard chameleons, these large chameleons are native to Madagascar. There, they live in the lower parts of the rainforest. The long tail of the panther chameleon is extremely flexible and strong. They use it to support themselves on the branches of the trees and bushes on which they spend most of their life.

Depending on which area they come from, they have different colourings. Surprisingly, males can adopt almost any colour of the rainbow. Some are greenish and blueish, some red and white, and others are blue. The females are smaller and their colours are more muted. Even so, they can adopt various shades of green, yellow, copper or even black, depending on their mood.

They feed on any insect that fits in their mouths. Larger specimens can even eat small vertebrates.

These animals are very territorial. They do not live together – they only pair up to reproduce and then each one returns to their own territory.

Conservation status