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Panther chameleon vision: the science and the numbers

Furcifer pardalis · Reptiles: all the numbers

The panther chameleon has 6 colour channels, including ultraviolet.[1] Its activity pattern is diurnal.[1][12][13]

See it on your photoBack to How does the panther chameleon see?
  • 6colour receptor classesMeasured

The panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) is a reptile. Its eyes belong to the vision type Chameleon independent eyes: two independently moving eyes with a telephoto lens and high sharpness. Measured in this species: colour, foveas and night vision. Measured core: measured values on at least 3 of the 6 dials.

This is a simulation built from published eye measurements, not what the animal experiences.

Method: How we know what animals see (the See Like Animals vision engine) · Sources · Last updated . Every value below carries its evidence level and sources; nothing is typed by hand.

What the panther chameleon sees: colour receptors

Panther chameleon colour receptor peaks, 300 to 700 nmPanther chameleon: 6 receptor peaks at 375, 444, 490, 559, 575, 604 nm; you: 3 at 421.5, 532, 558.4 nm. ultraviolet300400500600700
Panther chameleon: 375, 444, 490, 559, 575, 604 nmPeople: 421.5, 532, 558.4 nmWavelength in nanometres

What stands out

  • It has 6 colour receptor classes, including ultraviolet; people have 3.
  • Activity pattern: diurnal.

The six dials

Evidence levels: how the tiers work. "Measured" means a value measured in this species; "Estimated" values come from a close relative or an eye-size formula. The last column gives the values for people from the same catalogue.

Vision values for the panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis), catalogue-v1
DialValueEvidenceSourcesPeople
ColourColour receptors
6 receptor classes: 375 nm (UVS), 444 nm (SWS (blue)), 490 nm (MWS (green)), 559 nm (LWS (long)), 575 nm (LWS (long)), 604 nm (LWS (long))
measured in this species
Measured[1]Colour receptors: 3 receptor classes: 421.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 532 nm (MWS (green)), 558.4 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified)[1][2][3][4]
Ultraviolet
yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet		Measured
SharpnessNo value in the catalogue.Acuity: 63.75 cycles per degree Measured[5][6]
Field of viewEye placement
independent		No dataBinocular overlap: 122.5° Measured[7][8]
Total field of view: 200° Measured (not re-verified)[9]
Blind area behind the head: 160° Derived[9]
Eye placement: frontal Derived[7][8]
Sharp zones (foveas)Number of foveas
1
species-v1.csv text: 1 (central deep fovea)
Measured (not re-verified)[10]Number of foveas: 1 Measured[11]
Fovea type: fovea Measured[11]
Fovea type
central fovea		Measured (not re-verified)[10]
Night visionActivity pattern
diurnal
mode of 3 rows (of 3 rows): Diurnal; diurnal
Measured (not re-verified)[1][12][13]Activity pattern: diurnal Measured (not re-verified)[14][15][16][1][17][18][19][13]
Pupil shape: vertical Group default[20][21]
Reflective layer (tapetum): no Measured[22]
Rods vs cones: cone-dominated Derived[14][15][16][1][17][18][19][13]
Pupil shape
round (or oval)		Group default[20][23]
Rods vs cones
cone-dominated
nocturnal -> rod-dominated; crepuscular / cathemeral / mixed -> mixed; diurnal -> cone-dominated
Derived[1][12][13]
Motion (flicker fusion)Flicker fusion frequency
34.6 Hz
median of 15 relatives in class Squamata: Phrynosoma cornutum, Sphaerodactylus inaguae, Anolis cristatellus, Anolis gundlachi, Anolis pulchellus, Iguana iguana
Group default[24][25][26][27]Flicker fusion frequency: 60 Hz Measured[25][26]

All reptiles side by side: Reptiles: every measurement. Method: how we know what animals see.

Sources

  1. Longcore 2023
  2. Kirwan
  3. Müller et al. 2009
  4. Thermal Activation and Photoactivation of Visual… 2004
  5. Kirk et al. 2004
  6. Veilleux et al. 2014
  7. Heesy 2004
  8. Heffner et al. 1992
  9. Campbell & Green 1965
  10. Ott & Schaeffel 1995
  11. Kopania et al. 2025
  12. Meiri 2024. SquamBase: a database of…
  13. Moura et al. 2024
  14. Anderson et al. 2017
  15. Borges et al. 2018
  16. Wilman et al. 2014
  17. Maor et al. 2017
  18. Jones et al. 2009
  19. Schmitz et al. 2011
  20. Banks et al. 2015
  21. Cervino et al. 2021
  22. Guareschi et al. 2025
  23. Oskyrko et al. 2024
  24. Haarlem et al. 2026
  25. Healy et al. 2013
  26. Inger et al. 2014
  27. Lafitte et al. 2022

Every value cites its sources (all sources). Values were extracted from these works and converted (units, medians, derived values); changes are ours, and the listed sources do not endorse this site. Data: catalogue-v1, built 2026-09-29. Accuracy notes: how accurate is this? Method: how we know.