O'shaughnessy's chameleon
A species of Cryptic chameleon Scientific name : Calumma oshaughnessyi Genus : Cryptic chameleon
O'shaughnessy's chameleon, A species of Cryptic chameleon
Scientific name: Calumma oshaughnessyi
Genus: Cryptic chameleon
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Heinonlein , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
O'Shaughnessy's chameleon (Calumma oshaughnessyi) is a species of chameleon endemic to Madagascar. It was named after the British poet and herpetologist Arthur O'Shaughnessy.
General Info
Lifespan
5-8 years
Diet
O'shaughnessy's chameleon, commonly known as O'Shaughnessy's chameleon, primarily sustains itself on a diet of invertebrates. Its menu frequently includes insects like beetles, ants, and spiders, with smaller chameleons favoring aphids and mites.
Appearance
O'shaughnessy's chameleon is a medium-sized chameleon with a slender body covered in smooth scales. Its color ranges from bright green to dark brown, patterned with spots and stripes that aid in camouflage. Boasting a prehensile tail and elongated body, it possesses a distinctive horn-like protuberance above each eye. It also exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males being larger and more vibrant in color while females are typically smaller with muted hues.
Behavior
O'shaughnessy's chameleon displays a distinct characteristic of color-changing for camouflaging and social interaction. Primarily a solitary, arboreal species, it shows territorial aggression only during breeding seasons. Uniquely, it avoid threats via swift, sidewards gait mimicking a leaf's sway. O'shaughnessy's chameleon forages during the day, majorly for arthropods, using its long, retractile tongue.
Population
Decreasing
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Lizards and snakes Family
Chameleons Genus
Cryptic chameleon Species
O'shaughnessy's chameleon 
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