Chameleons

A chameleon might look bizarre to you, but not to a bug.

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. Aided by his steady grip and excellent vision, the chameleon is always ready to seize unsuspecting prey.

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.
As he hunts, the chameleon avoids detection from hungry predators by spending much of his time waiting for food to come to him. Even when he sits on a branch in full view, a predator may not spot him because he sits so still and blends in well with his surroundings

When on the move, he sometimes avoids being seen by rocking back and forth as he lurches ahead, possibly giving hungry eyes the illusion that he is simply a leaf or branch blowing in the wind. When threatened by an enemy from behind or enticed by a tasty treat ahead, he can stride forward quickly, but most of the time he is in no hurry.

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. When the chameleon closes in on a juicy bug just beyond his tongue’s reach, he may release the branch with his front feet, rising up to essentially “stand” at any angle. Then with his tail firmly grasping the branch, he takes a shot. 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.

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Source: Chameleons | Answers in Genesis