Do chameleons bite?

Chameleons are known to bite if they feel threatened or provoked. Sensitive and territorial reptiles, chameleons were once considered very difficult to maintain in captivity.

Once relatively rare, chameleons are growing in popularity as pets. Amphibian Care cautions that these colorful lizards are not typically very tolerant of human contact. Though there are a few exceptions, most chameleons hiss and gape at their human handler and can bite. Known for their ability to change color, angry or scared chameleons turn dark brown or black. Pet owners are advised to limit handling to cage cleaning unless absolutely necessary to limit stress to the animal.