Chameleons: A Bug’s Worst Nightmare

Chameleons: A Bug’s Worst Nightmare

...Stealth. Patience. Vigilance. Slowly the hunter moves unseen among the branches. His independently rotating eyes constantly scan the leafy canopy in every direction. No insect is safe within striking distance of his infamous weapon—a fast-acting and deadly accurate catapulting tongue....

Hiding in Full View

This hunter is often in danger of becoming the hunted, so hiding is a key to his survival. Contrary to popular belief, however, the chameleon does not change color to match his background. At rest, however, his coloration—usually shades of green or brown—generally serves well as camouflage...

A Steady Grip

All chameleons have clamp-like feet, with toes arranged in what is called a "zygodactyl" pattern. These clamps give the chameleon a steady grip with little effort. On his front feet, two toes are fused on the outside and three on the inside. On his back feet, the pattern is reversed—three on the outside and two on the inside. Such a design is ideal for grasping branches, twigs, or stems.

The Creator also gave chameleons a fifth "limb," a prehensile (gripping) tail. This useful tool increases the creature's stability among the swaying branches and rescues him if he happens to lose his grip during an attack....Occasionally his back feet come off the branch. Whether it is intentional or he simply loses his grip, this allows him to reach a fraction of an inch farther.
An Impressive Tool Chest

Eyes like No Other

The chameleon's eyes have to be one of the most fascinating tools God gave him...
Amazingly, each eye rotates independently, seeing two different images at once. So the chameleon can see virtually 360 degrees around him without moving his head. This ability is extremely helpful when trying to spot a fly while keeping a close lookout for a hungry bird approaching from a different direction...

A Deadly Tongue

The long tongue is stored, accordion style, on something called a hyoid bone (actually made of cartilage), which serves as the stable "frame" for launching the catapult. The tongue fits over this rod in much the same way a long sleeve of a sweater is pushed up your arm. After the chameleon takes aim, special muscles cock, trigger, and catapult the tongue. As the ballistic tongue launches, its core telescopes outward...

One-of-a-Kind Design

We've only scratched the surface of the chameleon's incredible design...We really are witnessing and studying the Creator's amazingly complex and efficient design, clearly seen even in a fallen world...

Did You Know?

  • Chameleons change color to communicate with other chameleons, to display their mood, and to respond to temperature and humidity, not to match their background as is often thought.
  • While their color-changing ability is limited, each species displays a different palette of colors and patterns (stripes, spots, etc.). Size varies from just 1.3 inches (3.3 cm) to over 2 feet (0.7 m). With over 160 species, their variation rivals the number of dog breeds registered with the American Kennel Club (170 breeds).
  • Reminiscent of the frills and horns of many dinosaurs, chameleons display a wide assortment of horns, scaly projections growing from the tips of their snouts, sail-like crests that run along their backs and tails, helmet-like growths, and elephant ear-like flaps that they can raise and lower.

Related Articles

More From Genesis

Chameleons

“Your hands have made me and fashioned me.” Psalm 119:73
Chameleons

Lightning Bug

The not-by-accident design of the flashing mechanism of the lightning bug is far superior to…
Lightning Bug

Monkeys

"God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He…
Monkeys
Sand

Sand

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Do no wrong’” (Jeremiah 22:3). This picture shows the ocean, and on the…
Sand

Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers seem to delight in pecking and pounding with their beaks into trees—or drumming…
Woodpeckers

Pelicans

The pelican has a protection mechanism that is awesome! That skilled "fisherman" bird can dive…
Pelicans

Sparrows

It is not by accident that song SPARROWS living in desert areas of the Southwestern USA look…
Sparrows

Australian Platypus

With some features of a duck, a beaver, and an otter, the platypus is a mammal without nipples…
Australian Platypus

The Miracle of Water

In Genesis1:2, we read of GOD’s Spirit moving (or hovering) over the face of the water. On the…
The Miracle of Water

Goats

The often-pictured mountain goat can thrive in elevations too high and cold for even trees to…
Goats

Sheep and Lambs

Not all sheep are dumb, nor are they all "followers" as their overall reputation would have…
Sheep and Lambs

Bears

For some of God's creatures it is definitely not by accident but rather part of God's design…
Bears

The Coyote

A female coyote chooses whom she will mate with - sometimes her choice is unwise! But then…
The Coyote

Donkeys

Donkeys are often misunderstood and dismissed as "stubborn." But for those who get to know…
Donkeys
Blue Marlin

Blue Marlin

Some creatures seem to have everything now! We wonder what God's original plan was for them;…
Blue Marlin

Loggerhead Turtle

Research shows that Florida beaches account for a third of the world population of loggerhead…
Loggerhead Turtle

Bald Eagles

"The Bible verse found in Isaiah 40:31 says they who "wait upon the Lord . . . shall mount up…
Bald Eagles

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation