ETYM Latin Chamaeleon, Greek chamaileon, lit., chamai on the ground + lewn lion. Related to Humble, and Lion.
Lizard of Africa and Madagascar able to change skin color and having a projectile tongue; SYN. chamaeleon.

Any of some 80 or so species of lizard of the family Chameleontidae. Some species have highly developed color-changing abilities, which are caused by changes in the intensity of light, of temperature, and of emotion altering the dispersal of pigment granules in the layers of cells beneath the outer skin.
The tail is long and highly prehensile, assisting the animal when climbing. Most chameleons live in trees and move very slowly.
The tongue is very long, protrusile, and covered with a viscous secretion; it can be shot out with great rapidity to 20 cm/8 in for the capture of insects. The eyes are on “turrets”, move independently, and can swivel forward to give stereoscopic vision for “shooting”. Most live in Africa and Madagascar, but the common chameleon Chameleo chameleon is found in Mediterranean countries; two species live in SW Arabia, and one species in India and Sri Lanka.