Up in the tree canopies where they live, their feet clamp down onto vines and branches. Chameleons usually hold their legs almost directly underneath their bodies, giving them an athletic gait for a modern reptile: Walking this way keeps the center of gravity directly above the feet, which helps the animals stay balanced.
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Almost half of all chameleon species live in Madagascar
There are around 200 known chameleon species, 44 percent of which can be found in Madagascar—leading some experts to wonder if the whole chameleon family evolved there (though a modern analysis deemed mainland Africa a more likely origin point). Other species of chameleon live in India, the Middle East, and mainland Africa.
