What type of animal is Pascal in Tangled?

Pascal in Tangled is a chameleon.

Pascal is Rapunzel's pet and closest companion during her years of isolation in Mother Gothel's tower. He does not speak, but communicates through expressive gestures, facial reactions, and changes in color. His companionship gives Rapunzel emotional support before she meets Flynn Rider and leaves the tower.

The filmmakers chose a chameleon because its ability to change color suited the character's visual comedy and Rapunzel's unusual, artistic personality. Pascal's name was inspired by a pet chameleon owned by Tangled animator Kellie Lewis. The character was deliberately designed as an expressive silent performer rather than a talking sidekick.

A common mix-up is calling Pascal a gecko or generic lizard. Chameleons are lizards, but “chameleon” is the more precise and canonical answer used by the film's character descriptions. Pascal later appears with Maximus in Tangled Ever After and in other Tangled-related Disney stories.