The Oustalet’s chameleon, also known as the Malagasy giant chameleon, is a large reptile with colors of brown, green, and blue. They have a large spinal ridge from the back of their neck to their tail, as well as a dorsal ridge from their snout to eyes. 

The male can be up to 27 inches long, whereas the female only grows to about 12 inches. They weigh around 1 lb. at maturity which makes it the second heaviest chameleon on earth next to the Parson’s chameleon.

These chameleons are endemic to Madagascar and are found in a variety of habitats. They are found in dry areas like deciduous forests,  moist areas like evergreen forests, high and low elevations, and even on agricultural land.

The Oustalet’s chameleon has a suction-cup-tipped tongue that is almost as long as its body and will use it to capture prey. They will feed on large insects, some fruits, and occasionally small birds and reptiles.

After the male and female mate, the gestation period will be around 40 days. The female will lay up to 60 eggs and will excavate a nest to bury them underground. The chameleon eggs will hatch 6-8 months after being laid.

There is no parental care from either the mother or the father after the young chameleons hatch and emerge from the ground. Oustalet’s chameleons will reach sexual maturity about 1 year after hatching.

They have a third eye on the top of their head called the “parietal eye”! It is used to help protect it from predators because this eye can detect shadows like the ones from predatory birds flying overhead. 

Chameleons are masters at communicating with colors, using them to regulate their body temperature and to show off. Their skin is made up of a layered system of different colored cells, called chromatophores, which change based on prompts from the nervous system. They use this for many purposes including attracting a mate by changing their shade, or by changing color entirely when they feel threatened.

They are named after a famous French zoologist Jean-Frederic Oustalet, but Oustalet didn’t actually discover them. French herpetologist Francois Mocquard, first described the species in 1894 and then dedicated the name as a tribute to Jean-Frederic Oustalet.