Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Linnaeus, 1758).

Length up to 130 mm. Certainly among the most distinctive and unusual reptiles. The head and body are laterally compressed; on the head is a casque (helmet) with longitudinal ridges. The eyes are large, cone-shaped and function independently; the toes are partially fused with two digits opposed to the other three on each limb; the tail can be rolled up and is prehensile (able to grasp). The basic color is variable; greenish or grey, but can be changed in response to a series of factors such as light, body temperature, state of health, and social interaction. However, the ability of a chameleon to change its color is greatly exaggerated. The Common Chameleon inhabits vegetated desert areas with bushes or trees in which its specialized feet and tail enable it to climb. It is entirely diurnal and feeds on mobile insects such as grasshoppers, butterflies, and flies, which it catches by shooting out its long sticky tongue faster than the eye can see; the tongue is then returned to its coiled position in the mouth. The female lays 5-10 eggs and the incubation lasts for 220 days. In Egypt, it is found in the Western Mediterranean Coastal Desert, the northern part of the Eastern Desert, and Sinai. Its global range covers North Africa and the Mediterranean region. It is common and widespread, although it is collected vigorously for the pet trade.