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Chameleons Trivia Quiz

Chameleons are lizards which can change their color quickly.

A multiple-choice quiz by alg8r. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
alg8r

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
148,801

Updated
Sep 02 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1539

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. All of the following are characteristics of chameleons EXCEPT: Hint

prehensile tail

laterally flattened body

long projectile tongue

sticky feet

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Question 2 of 10

2. Native to Tanzania and Kenya, Jackson's chameleons (Chamaeleo jacksonii xantholophus) were kept uncaged in the back yard of an American pet shop owner in 1972. These chameleons spread to a wide area and now most Jackson's chameleons that are caught in the wild come from this state. Which state is it? Hint

Hawaii

Texas

Florida

California

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Question 3 of 10

3. All of the following statements about panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) are true EXCEPT: Hint

They are native to Madagascar.

Females who are receptive to breeding fade to a pale color.

Color variations include red, orange, yellow, green and blue.

Adult males and females are typically the same size.

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Question 4 of 10

4. All of the following statements about chameleons are true EXCEPT: Hint

If part of the tail is lost it will not regrow.

Most will drink from a bowl of water.

Eyelids are fused except for an opening about the size of the pupil.

Chameleon-like fossils millions of years old exist.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of the following chameleons bears live young instead of laying eggs? Hint

Veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)

Jackson's chameleon (Chamaeleo jacksonii)

Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis)

Common chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon)

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Question 6 of 10

6. The sex of veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) is easily determined at birth by which of the following features found only in males? Hint

forked tail

orange color on nose

tarsal (heel) spurs

spiked casque (long projections off helmet like structure on back of head)

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Question 7 of 10

7. The chameleon's skin has specialized color cells. All of the following statements about these cells are true EXCEPT: Hint

Guanocytes lighten skin color.

Melanophores contain red pigment.

Iridocytes regulate the depth light can penetrate into the skin.

Xanthophores contain yellow pigment.

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Question 8 of 10

8. The Chamaeleo genus of chameleons differs from the Furcifer and Brookesia genuses in which of the following structures? Hint

ribs

cloaca

kidneys

lungs

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Question 9 of 10

9. Jackson's chameleons (Chamaeleo jacksonii) have a distinctive appearance due to which of the following? Hint

Back plates resembling a stegosaurus

A long neck resembling a brontosaurus (apatosaurus)

Body armor resembling an ankylosaurus

Three horns resembling a triceratops

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Question 10 of 10

10. Veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) are native to which country? Hint

Brazil

Yemen

Thailand

Gambia

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. All of the following are characteristics of chameleons EXCEPT:

Answer: sticky feet

Geckos have sticky feet due to thousands of tiny hairs. Chameleons have distinctive feet with digits fused into two pairs. The two pairs of digits grip like pincers to help them climb on tree branches. A few small, mostly ground dwelling, chameleons have tails that are not completely prehensile.

Answer: Hawaii

People spotting the chameleons often pick them up and take them home which has helped them spread to an even wider range.

3. All of the following statements about panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) are true EXCEPT:

Answer: Adult males and females are typically the same size.

Males reach 22 inches (56 cm) in length. Females reach 13 inches (33 cm). This variation in size depending on sex is called sexual dimorphism.

4. All of the following statements about chameleons are true EXCEPT:

Answer: Most will drink from a bowl of water.

Normally chameleons lick water or dew off leaves. They will also drink from moving water. A drip irrigation system in which a container of water slowly drips on leaves of plants in the cage below works well. Misting leaves with a spray bottle also works. Few chameleons will drink readily from a bowl of water.

Some people have reported training chameleons to drink from a bowl. They have used shiny bowls and elevated them above ground level.

5. Which of the following chameleons bears live young instead of laying eggs?

Answer: Jackson's chameleon (Chamaeleo jacksonii)

Other livebearing chameleons include Cape Dwarf chameleon (Bradypoion pumilum), Elliot's chameleon (Chamaeleo ellioti) and Helmeted chamleon (Chamaeleo hoehnelii).

6. The sex of veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) is easily determined at birth by which of the following features found only in males?

Answer: tarsal (heel) spurs

The spurs can be seen easily on newborns. A characteristic of veiled chameleons is the large casque. Male chameleons have casques ranging in height up to 4.3 inches (108 mm). The male casque is larger than the female casque. It is difficult to differentiate the sex of newborns based on the casque size. Male casques are not spiked.

7. The chameleon's skin has specialized color cells. All of the following statements about these cells are true EXCEPT:

Answer: Melanophores contain red pigment.

Erythrophores contain red pigment. Melanophores contain black or dark brown pigment. In humans melanocytes produce similar black or dark brown pigmentation. Different chromatophores containing different color pigments are at different depths in the skin. The iridocytes vary which of these colored cells receive light.

8. The Chamaeleo genus of chameleons differs from the Furcifer and Brookesia genuses in which of the following structures?

Answer: lungs

Furcifer and Brookesia have single lobed lungs. Chamaeleo have two lobes in each lung. All chameleons have ribs made of cartilage which allow them to fall from trees without risk of breaking rib bones.

9. Jackson's chameleons (Chamaeleo jacksonii) have a distinctive appearance due to which of the following?

Answer: Three horns resembling a triceratops

Males have territorial battles with other male Jackson's using their horns to joust. Female Jacksons often lack horns.

10. Veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) are native to which country?

Answer: Yemen

They are also found in southern Saudi Arabia which is adjacent to Yemen. Chameleons are not native to North or South America and are sometimes referred to as Old World chameleons.

Source: Author alg8r

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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