User:Srinath26

𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐨𝐧 (𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘰 𝘻𝘦𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴) බෝදිලිමා

There are fifty-five species of chameleons recognized in the world and fifty-one of them are only found in Africa and Madagascar. The chameleon that occurs in Sri Lanka is one of the four species that is found outside Africa and Madagascar and is the only species of chameleon found in the Asian region. One out of the other three species occur in the Mediterranean coastal areas and two in the Arabian peninsular.

Other than in Sri Lanka this interesting species with a prehensile tail and an exceedingly long sticky tongue are found in the arid areas of India and in the extreme Eastern parts of Pakistan.

In Sri Lanka conservation status of this species is regarded as “Endangered” (National Red List 2012) and is protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

These animals have an astonishing ability to camouflage themselves and are extremely difficult to spot in the wild. They have a remarkable ability to change to the colour of yellow, green and brown and shades in between in order to blend into the environment they occupy. Carefully observing the foliage in open places and forest edges are the best way to locate this master of camouflage.