Named after British naval officer and explorer William Fitzwilliam Owen,[3] it was first described in 1831 by the naturalist John Edward Gray, and is the type species of the genus Trioceros.

[2] Owen's chameleon can be found in much of tropical central Africa, from the Niger Delta in Nigeria in the north, to Angola in the south, and Burundi in the east.

[1] It inhabits dense evergreen and semi-deciduous forests at altitudes lower than 800 m (2,600 ft) above sea level, usually living in large trees.

On average, adult Owen's chameleons range from 25 to 28 cm (9.8 to 11.0 in) in total length (including tail),[4] while a typical weight is around 75 g (2.6 oz).

[1] Because of its wide range, abundance, and population stability, Owen's chameleon is ranked Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.