Lizard
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Lev. 11:29)—one of the small land creatures declared unclean under the law of Moses. The exact Hebrew species is uncertain, and the biblical list may include more than one kind of lizard. Lizards are reptiles found in many regions; many feed chiefly on insects, and some use a long, mobile tongue to seize prey. The source includes the chameleon, whose coloration can change with light, temperature, mood, and surroundings, though not simply to match any background.