The species should not be confused with the armoured chameleon, which belongs to the bottom dwelling short-tailed chameleons. The scientific name was first proposed by Georges Cuvier in 1829. Later several other scientific names were used such as Chamaeleo ater, Cyneosaura pardalis, Chamaeleo guentheri and Chamaeleon longicauda.[3] Because the species was classified for a long time under the genus Chamaeleo, the old name Chamaeleo pardalis still often appears.