Due to its amazing ability to change colour, the Mediterranean chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) can vary from bright green to dull brown, tan or grey. Females may also display yellow, orange or green spots during the mating season, and are generally slightly heavier than the males. Whatever its background colour, the Mediterranean chameleon generally has two light stripes along each side of its body, with the stripes often being broken into a series of dashes or spots.

Like other chameleons, the Mediterranean chameleon is well known for its long, sticky tongue which, when extended, can be twice the length of the body. Chameleons have very sharp eyesight and each eyeball is able to move independently of the other. The Mediterranean chameleon is well adapted to living in bushes and trees, with strong feet to hold firmly onto branches and a long, prehensile tail.

The Mediterranean chameleon has a light crest of scales along its throat, and a crest of small, serrated scales along its back.