Common Name: Parson's Chameleon

Scientific Name: Calumma parsonii parsonii

Food: Insects

Distribution: Madagascar

Habitat: Some populations are under pressure from deforestation, recent reports of some locally abundant populations and colonization of both secondary forests and even plantations.

Color Discription: Some animals have yellow or orange eyelids or lips and/or irregular black or gray stripes or blotches. A pale yellow or white spot of variable size may adorn the flanks.

Physical Discription: Large flat casque with occipital lobes. In males, the canthi rostralis (lateral ridges running from above the eyes toward the snout) become more pronounced as they proceed in the anterior direction and become elaborated into two scoop-shaped, warty horns. Females lack the prominent rostral processes of the male. A hemipenial bulge is apparent in males, particularly during the breeding season.

Size: Calumma parsonii parsonii has been documented to grow up to 28" total length. Unconfirmed reports exist of specimens up to 32".

Temperatures:

Breeding/Reproduction: They are known to lay 30 - 50 eggs but only lay 1 clutch a yr. Long term breeding success has been achieved by very few keepers and only the most expert keepers should attempt to maintain this most prized (and correspondingly expensive) species.

Cage Setup:

Water:

Special Needs: It is important that the Parson Chameleon have exposure to UV lights and a drip system in order for the animal to survive in captivity.