Stegosaurus or Chameleon?

Some science-minded intellectuals think that the carving of a stegosaurus-like creature on an ancient Cambodian temple may be a rhinoceros: or a chameleon.  In this article we will look at the chameleon hypothesis to see if it holds up.  Below are pictured of both.  Can you spot any differences???.   

Stegosaurus or Chameleon? 
www.bible.ca/tracks/tracks-cambodia.htm 

Chameleon 
www.animalwallpaper.org 

Its Tail
The the tail of the creature above  droops down and away from its body, and may even touch the ground.  It is not curled up in a ball as is the tail of the Chameleon, but this does not mean that doesn't have the ability to do so (?). 

Its Back 
The creature above appears to have large structures or plates  across the top of its back.  Its back also is rounded like a ball.

Its Eye
The eye of the creature above is near the middle of its head 

Its Head 
The creature above has either long pointed ears, or a frill (or shield) around the top of its head (?)

Its Legs
The creature above has a legs that are similar to that of an elephant. They also do not appear to be as flexible as that of the chameleon (?). Its legs are also larger in diameter than the base of its tail. 

Its Claws or Hands (?)
The creature above does not appear to have claws (or hands) on its legs. It also appears to be walking on the ground (?).

Its Tail
The tail of the Chameleon above is curled up in a ball -- in Three 360 degree circles.  The creature to the left does not appear to have this ability (?). The base of its tail also appears to be larger than its legs (?)

 Its Back 
While the back of the chameleon is rounded, and has small ridges, it does not appear to have any plates on its back (?). 

Its Eye
The chameleon's eye is near the middle of its head; however it is slightly higher and larger in proportion than that of the creature to the left.

It Head 
The Chameleon above has a large structure around the top of its head that is at least superficially similar to that of the creature on the left.

Its Legs
The Chameleon's legs are long and thin, and smaller at their base than its tail. Its leg-joint is located above the bottom of its belly. The creature to the left does not appear to have the ability to do this (?).

Its Claws or Hands (?)
The Chameleon above has claws or hands that can grasp a limb.

Stegosaurus or Chameleon? 
www.bible.ca/tracks/tracks-cambodia.htm 

Chameleon 

Its Tail
The the tail of the creature above  droops down and away from its body, and may even touch the ground.  It does not appear to have spikes on the end of its tail: perhaps because the end is not pictured (?).

Its Back 
The creature above appears to have large structures or plates  across the top of its back.  Its back also is rounded like a ball.

Its Eye
The eye of the creature above is near the middle of its head 

Its Head 
The creature above has either long pointed ears, or a frill (or shield) around the top of its head (?)

Its Legs
The creature above has a legs that are similar to that of an elephant. Its legs are also larger in diameter than the base of its tail.

Its Claws or Hands (?)
The creature above does not appear to have claws or hands on its legs, and it appears to be walking on the ground (?).

Its Tail
The tail of the Chameleon above is pointed straight behind its body.  It does not appear to have any spikes on the end of its tail; however this could be because the end of its tail is not in the  picture (?).

 Its Back 
The back of the chameleon is slightly rounded, but does not appear to have any plates on it (?). 

Its Eye
The chameleon's eye is near the top of its head and appears to be pointing upward (?).

It Head 
The Chameleon above does not appear to have a frill around its head; however, it may have ears that are pointed backward (?).

Its Legs
The Chameleon's legs are long and thin, and are smaller than the base of its tail. They also appear to be smaller in proportion to its body size than that of  the creature to the left.

Its Claws or Hands (?)
Like the Chameleon on top, the one above also has claws or hands (?) that can grasp a limb.

Stegosaurus or Chameleon? 
www.bible.ca/tracks/tracks-cambodia.htm 

Chameleon from Madagascar
http://gondwanareptiles.blogspot.com 

Its Tail
The the tail of the creature above  droops down and away from its body, and may even touch the ground.  It does not appear to have spikes on the end of its tail: perhaps because the end is not pictured (?).

Its Back 
The creature above appears to have large structures or plates  across the top of its back.  Its back also is rounded like a ball.

Its Eye
The eye of the creature above is near the middle of its head 

Its Head 
The creature above has either long pointed ears, or a frill (or shield) around the top of its head (?)

Its Legs
The creature above has a legs that are similar to that of an elephant. They also do not appear to be as flexible as that of the chameleon (?). Its legs are also larger in diameter than the base of its tail.

Its Claws or Hands (?)
The creature above does not appear to have claws ( or hands) on its legs. It also appears to be walking on the ground (?).

Its Tail
The tail of the Chameleon above is slightly curved, and does not appear to have any spikes on its end. Its base appears to be at least twice the diameter as of its legs.

 Its Back 
The back of the chameleon above is slightly curved, and has small ridges that are similar to that of the creature on the left; however, they are much smaller, in proportion than the plates (?) of the creature on the left. 

Its Eye
The chameleon's eye is near the top of its head; however it is slightly higher and larger in proportion than that of the creature to the left.

It Head 
The Chameleon above has ridges on the top of its head, and it also appears to have a crest -- that is at least superficially similar to that of the creature on the left.

Its Legs
The Chameleon's legs are long and thin, and its front leg-joint is so flexible that it is above its belly. The leg-joints of the creature on the left do not appear to be this flexible (?).

Its Claws or Hands (?)
The Chameleon above has three claws on its hind leg, and also appears to be able to grasp a limb with both front and hind legs.


Note: It also seems a bit ironic that some of those who assert that the large plates on the back of the creature to the left are NOT really plates or ridges, nor even attached to its back, but rather are simply "the backdrop" ... and then claim that the animal of the left is a Chameleon --- and choose a picture of one with RIDGES on its back for the article they wrote on this subject.

See also:
Stegosaurus or Rhinoceros? 
Is it a Stegosaurus?

Questions and Comments

www.earthage.org
 

This page was last updated on  2-08-2013