Chameleon Origins
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CHAMELEON ORIGINS and DISTRIBUTION PAGES

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Squamata (lizard family) appeared around 195 million years ago in the Triassic Period, Chameleonidae Family appeared nearly 100 million year ago during the Cretaceous Period. Fossil remains have been found in Bavaria. Some experts consider Mimeosaurous (from Mongolia in the upper Cretaceous Period  ) to be related to true chameleons.

The oldest proven ancestor from  fossil is the Chameleo caroliquarti from approximately 26 million years ago. Fossils have been found in a much wider range than chameleons inhabit today. 

 

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Madagascar - Home to over 60 Species Yemen - Home of the Veiled ZAIRE Democratic Republic of Congo Tanzania - Home of the Jackson Rwanda Ethiopia Togo Benin Atlantic Ocean - CLICK HERE Sahara Desert Ghana Mozambique Malawi Cameroon Kenya Nigeria Uganda  

Distribution of Chameleons

Distribution_of Chameleons.jpg (100757 bytes)

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