Question

A reptilian looks like a house lizard is sitting on a plant with its tail coiled around twig in your garden. Can you identify the animal?
A) Garden lizard (Calotes) showing camouflage.
B) Chamaeleon showing protective colouration
C) Varanus showing mimicry
D) Hemidactylus showing sexual dimorphism.

Answer 1

Observe the morphological characters and also the behaviour of the animal. As it is sitting on a plant and looks like a house lizard, it should have a small size. And focus on its coiled tail character.

Complete Answer:
The common chameleon has an average length of 20–40 cm, females are usually substantially larger than males. Their colour is variable, ranging from yellow-brown-green to dark brown. The common chameleon has two light coloured lines on its body, along its side. A tiny beard of scales along with some small scales on the top of its back can be found in them. While attempting to camouflage itself, it can change its colour. The colour change is actually a response against light and temperature stimuli. It can also change its colour as an expression of its emotions. When caught for analysis, the chameleon often turns their colour tone to dark colours. Their varying colours are important for their intraspecific communication, especially for reproduction. They use this ability for catching prey as well as a defence mechanism to go unnoticed by predators.The curled tail among the given options can be present only in Chamaeleon.

Thus the correct option is – B. Chamaeleon showing protective colouration.

Note: The chameleon enjoys scrambling on plants and bushes. It holds the branches with feet having toes present in groups of two or three on each side of the palm for grasping branches. Its tail is used to maintain balance and stability. The chamaeleon is a locally threatened species due to loss of habitat, intensification of agriculture, predation, illegal trade as a pet, and mortality by roadkill.