The specific name, jacksonii, is a Latinized form of the last name of English explorer and ornithologist Frederick John Jackson, who was serving as the first Governor of Kenya at the time of Boulenger's description.

[8][9]: 132 The English word chameleon (also chamaeleon) derives from Latin chamaeleō, a borrowing of the Ancient Greek χαμαιλέων (khamailéōn), a compound of χαμαί (khamaí) "low to the ground" and λέων (léōn) "lion".

Jackson's chameleon is native to woodlands and forests at altitudes of 1,600 to 2,440 m (5,250 to 8,010 ft) in south-central Kenya and northern Tanzania.

[4] The subspecies T. j. xantholophus (native to the Mount Kenya region) was introduced to Hawaii in 1972 and has since established populations on all main islands and has become an invasive species there.

[5] Historically this population was the primary source of Jackson's chameleons for the exotic pet trade in the United States, but exports from Hawaii are now illegal.

It also preys on centipedes, isopods, millipedes, spiders, lizards, small birds, and snails in their native habitat.

[13] They were found with mainly insects in their stomachs: planthoppers Oliarus, grasshoppers Banza, casebearing caterpillars Hyposmocoma, beetles Oodemas, dragonflies Pantala[13] and others.

Males will generally assert dominance over each other through color displays and posturing in an attempt to secure mating rights, but usually not to the point of physical fights.

[20] In captivity, Jackson's chameleon requires high humidity, and is in general very needy of colder temperatures during the night.