Beautiful Footage: Chameleons Are Amazing | National Geographic

Watch these charismatic creatures shoot their tongues out like arrows to catch an insect, mimic leaves swaying in the wind, and display their hidden colors-and learn just how they do it.
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PRODUCER AND EDITOR: Kathryn Carlson
VIDEOGRAPHERS: Kathryn Carlson and Bruno D'amicis
ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE: Getty Images
SPECIAL THANKS: Christopher Anderson, Nick Henn, Canvas Chameleons, and Kevin Stanford Chameleons
Beautiful Footage: Chameleons Are Amazing | National Geographic
• Beautiful Footage: Cha...
National Geographic
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[@matyaskassay4346]

I love chameleons! They are one of the most incredible and beautiful animals on Earth!

[@Numocron]

Mátyás Kassay Me too.😃

[@withoutone000]

Chameleons are truly amazing and fascinating creatures.

[@MegaKameleon123]

+Souless Naga You my 'Naga' :D

[@stevebugeja7580]

nanna Yugoslavia gnu hmegkebbkłgamansjxgwhvskwbsmamgajqkahajakkajwly gh 7,jkmnl.ml.jok,mio jj .londhguvyuhbjbyunbyinbukbjombuln ,bi m ?Lillo, n bgguklp ............ .....ljkhnjiooppll,llop0..pojhgfx💄🌽🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌸🌸🌸🌸ffxfgvbhgub000m kklm9

[@Numocron]

SoullessNaga I know right.😃

[@JohnDoe-tt6en]

I'm interested in how their coloring reflects their mood.

[@aussiecoastie72]

laz absolutely

[@Vladimir-if6lj]

Male : i love you, please marry me Female : y e l l o w

[@AlexSmith-qw3nl]

She doesnt want yellow- blue and yellow- no-

[@diegoavilatorres4909]

bro notice that me and you are going to be the ones who have posted on this post and not 5 years ago LMFAOOOOOOO

[@AlexSmith-qw3nl]

@@diegoavilatorres4909 were all late to the party 😭🤚

[@mylesm4335]

@@AlexSmith-qw3nl I'm later 😭

[@kf9058]

Bwahaha

[@ryanmoeller3308]

It truly is sad that humans can't leave anything alone. we need to preserve and expand forests, not destroy them.

[@andreasweg3780]

ryan moeller so sad that evolution and survival of the fittest survive. those poor dinosaurs that could not evolve and died... its nature it will change

[@lren45]

Andrea Sweg It's not a matter of survival of the fittest anymore. Humans have become too powerful in the landscape of nature. We have done tremendous amounts of damage to ecosystems and habitats. We have altered habitats that now have camels in Australia. All of this for truly nothing. But, it is unstoppable, and ultimately we are going to see humans wiped out because of us being too greedy.

[@ryanmoeller3308]

lren45 I agree!

[@lren45]

Jace Cotton Give me your rationale. We all have different perspectives for which we hold as paramount. Edit: Also, explain to me which specific point that you find to be 'stupid.'

[@lren45]

Jace Cotton Right. I will counter each counter of yours as you did to my statement. You mention that 'being too powerful' is relative; yet, you then go on to say that it is "alarmist and is false." Isn't that a contradiction that you just made? That is simply a hypocritical thing to say after you say that power is relative. You can't say something is subjective and then falsify it. That is a huge logical error. Regardless, when I say too powerful it doesn't matter if it is relative because I am justifying my definition by the current state of human control. And of course, power is relative but that shouldn't stop you from making the claims and then defining what you perceive as something that is "too powerful." "Not anymore than what happens naturally and what continues to happen naturally. This narrative is just a mechanism by which leftists convince people to expand government by increasing regulations." This is beyond natural now. I don't know about you but having cars and streets, and most of the habitable landscapes being taken over by large structures is not natural. By 2030, approximately 90% of the tropical forests will be deforested. Approximately 70% of animals currently live in forests. What's also not natural is that since the 1970's, according to an article on the Washington Post, we have killed off 52% of the non-human animal population. This state of destruction surely isn't natural. This isn't a natural progression of death of animals. You just don't have more than half the animal population die off in 45 years. Then you start to get into useless discussion. Focus on the issue at hand. Whether 'leftists' trying to convince people to expand the government by regulations is or isn't the "narrative," is not relevant. Especially when you start your argument by saying power is relative. Ha. "That's just one example, and all of it is not for "truly nothing". As I mentioned before, people's entire lives depend on agriculture and harvestation." I'm going to flip the script. Morality is relative. Who cares if their lives are dedicated to harvesting agriculture. In fact, if it wasn't for agriculture people wouldn't have as many children. And we wouldn't have to worry about poverty, viruses, etc. People can choose to care about animal welfare over the welfare of a few of 7 billion humans. Especially, since we have a problem with obesity in the western world. "Greed is not going to wipe humans out. But this kind of stupidity will." You are telling me that you don't believe in Global Warming, climate change, deforestation, CO2 emissions, and animal extinctions? This is all caused by greed. And you know what, it won't be stopped. Because people's entire lives depends on doing this to make money. Does that mean it is right? To me, no. We as humans are very much short sighted, and think that this type of pleasure is going to last forever. Guess what? It's not. Because this is all backed by facts. Whether you care for animal welfare or not, one thing that is not relative is the way our planet is changing for the worse. And you mention stupidity. Last time I checked, I wasn't making irrational statements. I based my perception on facts, and that alone. You on the other hand are full of contradictions and hypocritical statements.

[@BigChungusthe3rd]

SAVE THE CHAMELEONS!!!

[@annandale_usa]

Joseph, what is your Chinese name?

[@BigChungusthe3rd]

Lol I'm not Chinese

[@toocoolfurschoolanimals5618]

😂😂😂

[@celinaorellana4320]

thx i have one

[@yeeturmcbeetur8197]

Gacha Amina Help me same.

[@C003]

When I was a kid i was really fascinated with chameleons,we had an essay in my school and I wrote everything I know about chameleons,the crystals in their skin that changes color,their really cool body,their long tongue and got an A and my teacher was really proud of me.

[@diptasarker4515]

I am proud of you too

[@Ray2311us]

Long would be an understatement

[@joesmith8288]

no one cares, shut up

[@rishabhsemwal4180]

@@joesmith8288 are you jealous?

[@Studio_Luvin]

Shut up nerd 🤓

[@maxmuzcarrot4655]

I just lost my pet chameleon a few weeks ago. I loved him so very much and he was my best buddy. I used to show him this video to show him how cool he was. His name was Griffin Brunswick. I miss you my sweet blue boy 💙

[@debadityanath4398]

wait he didnt change color? or was he blue at death?

[@carlosrodgers2474]

Such awesome reptiles.

[@paristhompson7522]

I'd hang out with a chameleon, they seem so laid back and chill.

[@NarcissistFreealmost]

Had one once, that I rescued from a pet shop as a baby. They make very cool pets. Better than fish for sure.

[@schmalanko]

chameleons are my favorite animal on earth!! they are so sassy and their colors are so beautiful! I love watching them crawl around. “Highly charismatic” is a perfect way to put it. Such fascinating little critters 🥺

[@ShadowCastPro]

A week ago I found a dead one of these floating on the waves on a Turkish beach. Was a sad moment but I took it's body to shore.

[@beIovid]

ARandomShadow good job, man.

[@The5thelemnt]

The color changes are beautiful! Some of natures creatures are amazing!

[@Jesus_not_God_he_worship_him]

Creatures of nature?!!How does a creature create a creature? Rather, God, who is like nothing, is not created, and is the Creator of all things. And extract things from each other that they do not own When you get married and have a child, did you create him? But you, your child, and the reproductive system are created by God and you are just using it.

[@Annieclemens]

I'm 48 . Since I was young I have been soooo much afraid of Chameleons . I tried to do the THINGS YOU FEAR METHOD. I have just watched & watched and watched this video . ALL MY FEARS have suddenly diasappered. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾. They are beautiful, innocent animals. Soon I'm willing to touch them. THANKYOU THANKYOU

[@senthamizhanseemanpolitics70]

Chameleons 🦎 are the master of the camouflage 👍 👑

[@macman3175]

God is amazing ! wow what amazing colors

[@CastledarkDweller27]

how could there be over A HUNDRED idiots who would give a thumbs DOWN to this fascinating little film about these gorgeous incredible unique creatures???

[@IncertusVeritas]

What an amazing creature... an exotic science lab on 4 legs.

[@vishalsehrawat9452]

Like

[@hannahhicks8033]

I'm blown away literally the best facts iv'e heard about them so far

[@Owlcopettube]

yeah he does a great job in describing chameleons!

[@danielortega8218]

Great video. Nice production, and very informative. This deserves more views.

[@wannurhanisable]

2:13 ... that face is so cute !!

[@erikamatumoto7005]

Wonderful world of chameleons 💛💚💙💜💗❤️

[@MihadAlzayat]

Protect our environment at all cost

[@DingDimlewitz]

The bow and arrow-girl hit my heart

[@KennKennX3]

So beautiful.

[@jacksonmoeller8350]

I have veiled chameleon as a pet, she’s my favorite:) I love her more than anything she’s just the most amazing thing over ever had the whole pleasure of interacting with lol

[@heather6598]

I have one two but ours is a male. I think the same things

[@Major_Patrick_Star]

I love my chameleon soooooo much.....

[@ellhayrapetyan]

Chameleons changing color seems magical, but it is not something they can control. It is just their body reacting to light, temperature, and mood. Sometimes, it helps them hide, but other times, it makes them more visible. A more surprising thing besides their color changing ability is that their tongue is twice the length of their body. They use it to catch prey in an instant. When I was a kid, I wanted a chameleon because I thought it was the coolest animal in the world. I started to love them after seeing them in one of my favorite Disney cartoons and started to dream of having one as a pet.

[@Ilemkd]

God is magnificent! God's creation is amazing, it shows His glory!

[@viddoze8232]

Nice and beautiful sharing 👌👌👌

[@little_philo8381]

Chameleons are so cool! I love them!

[@petertuckergoettler5720]

Merci.

[@obsideonyx7604]

I saw a little green one on the ground that came down from a trunk and tried to pick it up, it opened its mouth wide and hissed at me loudly. Bloody gave me a jump scare, I was not expecting that from such a seemingly gentle creature, nearly pissed myself. After that I did the next best logical thing, I poked it with a stick, I don't know why, but that hissing made me nervous, so a stick was necessary to interact with it, it's only logical. It bit the stick the few times so I felt it earned its freedom and allowed it to continue on its path.

[@obsideonyx7604]

***** Thanks, it's a true story taking place in South Africa. I had so many adventures there. Do you wanna hear about the time my friend nearly got killed by a huge black cobra?

[@mmmboj4714]

+Mnakekeli Ngcamphalala yesssss

[@jesusChrist-ft3ll]

Mnakekeli Ngcamphalala lol.

[@rajatbasak9703]

@@obsideonyx7604 after five days of agonizing pain, the cobra died. right?

[@bibette4275]

I’m surprised as an African you like them. They creep me out! When I see one outside, I don’t live the house for days!

[@Numocron]

Chameleons are my favorite kind of reptiles EVER!!!!!!😃

[@boybro1014]

chameleon’s are my favourite animal

[@oswaldosarmiento909]

I love the camaliones they are so cute and their colors enchant me they attract me a lot

[@311baca]

God is amazing.

[@rushbee1225]

Im hopefully getting a panther chameleon for my BIRTHDAY!!!

[@thejuiceisloose3311]

RuShBeE12 beware they are hard to take care of I had one I gave it away

[@zeal8111]

RuShBeE12 Same here!

[@Bone20647]

hope he/she is living a great life if you did get one

[@Kevin_1401]

NO WAY

[@MoiSJ]

Chameleons are like paintings that bring's color & contrast in our life.

[@Owlcopettube]

Love the chameleon footage!

[@Flamingo.1]

A veiled chameleon can accelerate its sticky tongue as fast as a jet plane to capture prey.

[@irenemarlor4583]

We don't have them in Australia. But WOW!!!!!!

[@gorgeusjames]

Pure and absolute design marvel and creation

[@Twicken17]

Oh wow. I learned a lot tonight. Thank you.

[@jedelusional]

So beautiful, stunning and fasincating this creatureeee

[@deepikasaraswat5171]

beauty of nature

[@itsMeJustin]

Awesome film, thanks

[@biscute263]

so cool and so cute

Love the chameleons..!!

[@ElyjahDHerring]

"The master of camo" octopus: * cough cough *

[@kathrinkat3394]

0:14 THE CHAM IS DANCING HES MOON WALKING

[@PlayMoGame]

Please teach your editor how to use end screen links without blocking stuff at the end of the video! You don't have to use the full 20 seconds!

[@chukwumau.5696]

Truly amazing.

[@TaylorShawn]

Hey nat geo. Yall need some more chameleon footage? 😉

[@N3WY0R1CAN]

So beautiful I want one now

[@purplechameleon35]

Why thank you!

[@theawkwardmexican1299]

Please save the chameleons. I want to be able to see one

[@tessmoore3762]

Go to your local zoo. You can probably see one there.

[@jeremytole3493]

Animal with most Camouflage game: Chameleon - 100 Cuttlefish - 10,000

[@KaylaTeets]

How does pet trade affect the populations of endangered species? I've always thought it would be really neat to take care of a chameleon so long as I could provide the correct climate/habitat/living conditions to do so. But I'm always wary about owning non-domesticated pets because of issues like poaching, illegal activity, pet trade, etc... especially if novelty pets add to a bigger issue in regards to population stimulation and safety measures. To break it down further - is it BETTER or WORSE to have an animal in captivity whose species is also endangered. Are you helping them by providing them a good life away from illegal pet trades, abusive relationships, and natural disaster or are you actually worsening their cause because of captivity itself? I suppose you have to personally evaluate the pros and cons. Obviously animals held in captivity face different issues than those in the wild. But if something is endangered - will holding it in captivity preserve its longevity in terms of its actual population or are you quickening the possibility of extinction by keeping it as a pet? That's not even including things like breeding. I would say maybe the middle ground are animal sanctuaries that allow animals to experience a life in their "natural habitat" while also protecting and nurturing their species to ensure its legacy continues on? My heart aches. :[ I want a variety of exotic pets. But most are illegal in my state or they require a specific license or lifestyle in order to be properly taken care of so I always opt out of that because they're most likely better off not being pets. But then when I questiion illegal pet trades or poaching etc... then I think maybe household captivity or sanctuary captivity is 10x better than the possibility of being sold off to some rich asshole who doesn't care about the animal or its well being at all it just wants an instagram picture and a few 'ooh ahhh's' when guests come over. When I see people who have tigers, lions, giraffes, elephants, etc... as pets and they spend 80% of the year away from their private estates...and even the other 20% that they are at the estate, I highly doubt that when they come home from a music tour or filming a movie, their first thought is 'let me go check on my wild animal' no... they're getting sleep, eating food, drinking booze, doing drugs, having sex, or spending time with their kids/spouses etc... so when people buy exotic animals for the sake of having them as a status symbol and they neglect or abuse them... it boils my blood. And then I have to check myself because I have pets of my own, that I love and nourish, but am I any better than them? Sure, my cat is domesticated and would probably do horrible out in the wild... but I have the longing for those same exotic pets... and even though I would personally devote myself to their well being - if they don't belong in a domesticated lifestyle - then it's just not healthy to have period. But then you have to get into the argument of what's okay and what isn't okay to consider as a "pet" I mean... people have ant farms, flea farms, bed bug farms, bee farms, koi fish ponds, foxes, squirrels, bengals, etc.... and there are people who have an exotic and rare opportunity to build a very strong bond with a wild animal that the other 99% of people will never experience no matter how much money they throw onto the table. But what is considered right or wrong? Good or bad? I would totally own a chameleon if it meant that I was making a positive impact on the species survival.

[@buggkidd]

I have a pet chameleon, and the way I see it- the pet store is going to keep getting in these animals if I buy one or not. But at least if I do get one, I’ll ensure he gets the best life one could give him. A huge problem in the chameleon pet trade is unfit keepers. All I can do is play my part in at least one chameleons life, as he won’t survive in the wild anyway.

[@fazlikareem6470]

wonderful creature

[@kris-ib6px]

THEYRE SO CUTE OMG

[@TheJagCraft]

Beautiful it made my day!

[@hayabusaknight2937]

Me in Minecraft my zoo: ready for more space chameleon?! Chameleon: YAY

[@ZzNEIDERMOBz]

I have a baby veiled chameleon she's only 1 month old she's a sweet heart

[@tospsy]

Theres a chameleon living in my house rn. He has came last winter and came back about a mounth ago!

[@bazrazin1]

forgot octopus, they are the real masters of camoflag.

[@occultus3935]

no

[@patrickpk4421]

LOVED THIS!!!

[@OneMeInMyself]

I will do anything in my power to prevent further deforestation. We are losing species forever every day, we can't lose the chameleons as well! 😭

[@quantumzoflyne]

Any technological implementation of chameleons’ mechanism of colour changing?

[@derb009]

I have a veiled chameleon they are truly awesome animals :D

[@abelmantor7557]

I just love how they change colors to match their surroundings.

[@dennismacheda5948]

Beautiful animals

[@TypeThisOnYT]

2:03 the cricket be like: what did I doo???

[@Gabriel-bx3nu]

Vegans beating up the chameleon for eating a living thing 😂

[@COOPERSCICHILDS]

Awesome video guys

[@xEllykinzorsopz]

so beautiful :)

[@wijkeellis8163]

This was a real awesome video

[@senopati-7637]

so awesome👍

[@carloshernandex44]

My favorite animal!

[@AphiweNdlovu-pw5li]

THEY ARE SO COOL 😎

[@debroyprasenjit]

Fascinating 24 August 2021

[@teleblack2069]

They don’t have speed so therefore they have range

[@modelingclaystudio9328]

Thanks this video has inspired me to make my own plasticine chameleon.

[@sophiem1285]

Yeeeeeeep, Madagascar

[@shikhar6228]

Amazing

[@katynash8163]

chameleon are so cool

[@aky1milk]

amazing.

[@frailvoid5844]

It’s interesting the chameleons use their colors as. Communication strategy as octopuses and even some jelly fish that can change colors as well use their color changing abilities for communication as well from what I’ve heard, might not be 100% right about this tho

[@neilrivera6157]

I want to get a chameleon and name it Karma

[@haileymaltba4328]

It’s the fact that the ad for this video was a geico add

[@josephnam838]

This is a good info

[@tadhgoriordan6853]

Lol no

[@josephnam838]

I know I am just saying since the teacher might see it

[@sherrymesser7540]

Can a chameleon rapidly change colors from green to yellow to red to brown to black in less than 4 minutes just by touching a colored surface?

[@heshewombow2000]

no. its a myth. they change color based on their mood

[@juanfrohlingos2600]

they can change their color very fast if they want

[@senthamizhanseemanpolitics70]

The Coleman Films yes you are 100% correct

[@rimworldlover]

Gods creation is awesome! Amazing intelligent design :)

[@julesverne6287]

No. Not even gonna waste my time.

[@iilikecereal]

aflumbahgee I'm warning you, don't bring religion onto the internet.

[@petersonic8634]

iilikecereal God is not a religion, he's just the creater that's all

[@Motovibes91]

Haha God is not religion. Religion is made by 'people'. Humanity is way to brainwashed these days smh

[@wicket4969]

How the hell do you even create religion lol

[@incogbroadcaster1171]

SAVE THE CHAMELEONS

[@fuldagermany]

Psychedelic for sure ... Peter Max used to use a lot of colors in his art, but me thinks the chameleons rule when it comes to color madness. If mankind continues to deforest lands and pollute ... we are dooming ourselves into extinction. The humble bees are diminishing, one has to consider what a huge deal that is, because it is a huge deal. No pollination, no food.

[@sedevinuovivi7960]

i like insecte..

[@bliss5168]

Chameleons looks like they are dancing hehe.

[@KeyLogged]

Can Chameleons change to ANY color combo?

[@ThexDynastxQueen]

So can they see the array of colors they change into like we do or does it register as something else?

[@Ntmoffi]

From what I can find, their eyes contain mostly "cones". Which allow them to pick up more color in vibrant detail. More cones instead of "rods" in their eyes also means better daylight vision. BUT not so good low light vision. Or, night time capability.

[@bleuprint7305]

This video is edited. Chameleons changing color to match their background or environment is a fallacy, they change their color rather to communicate with other chameleons and manifest their current mood such as scared, feeling cold, feisty or angry, having a baby or not ready to mate, and ready to mate. The true comouflage masters are the octopus and cuttlefish

[@rickiovalle2601]

in all, chameleons are cool

[@rosiemarsili265]

Sono bellissimi !