For thousands of years, chameleons have amazed people with their super-weird eyes, eyes that can swivel almost 360 degrees and even look in two different directions at once. But after centuries of curiosity, scientists have finally discovered how these reptiles pull off this mind-blowing trick. What makes chameleon eyes so special? Chameleon eyes work like tiny security cameras. They spin and scan in all directions with surprising independence. When hunting, their eyes roam separately until they spot prey, then suddenly both eyes lock onto the target at the same time, helping them aim their lightning-fast tongue strike. The strange part? No one truly knew why or how their eyes moved this way, until advanced CT scanning technology uncovered a hidden structure inside their heads. The secret: A pair of long, coiled optic nerves In 2017, a CT scan of a small leaf chameleon revealed something no one had noticed before: each eye connects to the brain through a long, spiral-shaped optic nerve. No other lizard has this. These nerves are stretched and coiled like old-school telephone cords, giving the eyes extra flexibility. Even the scientists who saw the scans couldn’t believe they were the first to notice what had been missed for centuries. Why scientists missed it for so long Earlier researchers relied on dissection to study chameleon anatomy. But cutting open the animal often damaged or distorted the delicate optic nerves, hiding the true spiral shape. Modern 3D CT scans, however, allow scientists to “see inside” without harming the animal. Thanks to large open-data projects like oVert, researchers studied brain scans of more than 30 lizards and all chameleons showed the same coiled optic nerve design. A closer look at chameleon superpowers Chameleons might move slowly, but everything else about them is built for survival: These amazing adaptations evolved across Africa, Europe, and Asia as chameleons adjusted to life among branches. How the coil helps them move their eyes Since chameleons can’t rotate their necks much, the eyes have to do most of the scanning. The coiled nerves act like springs, providing extra “slack” so the eyeballs can move widely without putting stress on the nerves. Scientists compare it to a coiled telephone wire stretchy, flexible, and designed to move far without pulling tight. A mystery through the ages Even legends like Aristotle, Isaac Newton, and early anatomists tried to explain chameleon vision, often getting bits right but missing the full picture. Some believed the nerves didn’t cross, others thought the eyes connected directly to the brain. But none described the spiral shape. Only now, with precise scans, have scientists finally confirmed the truth. The journey ahead This discovery opens the door to more questions: Do other tree-dwelling lizards have similar hidden adaptations? When exactly did chameleons evolve these coils? Scientists are ready to explore further. Even after thousands of years, nature still finds a way to surprise us and the chameleon remains one of its most fascinating mysteries.
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