Also like other chameleons, C. zeylanicus has bifurcated feet with a tongs-like shape, a prehensile tail, independent eye movement, and the ability to rapidly change skin colouring and patterns.

Despite common misconceptions, they do not change their visual appearance based on their surroundings or background, or even for camouflage, and may not even be able to perceive colour differences; rather, it is primarily for communication with others of their species, including to signify the receptiveness of a female (brighter patterns tend to show a willingness to mate) or submissiveness in general disputes (in territorial or male-female disputes, darker hues are often associated with submission, anger or desiring solitude).

[2][3] They are found throughout much of India south of Ganga river, southeasternmost Pakistan, and parts of Sri Lanka.

Phylogenetic evidence suggests that this unusual distribution is the consequence of oceanic dispersal to India from Arabia during the mid-Miocene.

The eyes are large, covered by a thick, granular lids pierced with a small central opening for the pupil.