Four subspecies are currently recognized: The average length of the common chameleon is 20–40 cm (8–16 inches), with females often being substantially larger than males.

[2] The common chameleon is insectivorous, capturing insects by stealth and the rapid extension of its long tongue, which has a terminal pad which grasps and adheres to the prey.

Common prey items include flies (Diptera), hymenopterans (Hymenoptera), true bugs (Heteroptera), crickets and grasshoppers (Orthoptera), and beetles (Coleoptera).

[2] The common chameleon like others of its family enjoys an arboreal habitat, scrambling about in trees and bushes with feet that have five toes, in groups of two or three on each side for grasping branches.

[2] The common chameleon is usually solitary, maintaining a territory and only tolerating members of the opposite sex during the mating season.

In North Africa and the Middle East, it occurs in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt,[8] Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Western Sahara, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

[9] While the species is common throughout most of its range, it is threatened locally by habitat loss, principally through urban development, the intensification of agriculture, predation by domestic animals, illegal collection for the pet trade, and roadkill mortality.