Watch: Chameleon bites venomous snake
Even though a snake eventually got the better of its prey, a circling eagle made sure it didn’t get anything to eat.
A boomslang was caught off guard when a chameleon decided it was time to fight back.
The remarkable sighting was captured on camera by Brian Abrahamson (62) on the Marula Loop in the Kruger National Park.
Abrahamson, who shared the footage and information with LatestSightings.com, said the snake and chameleon were in a tree right next to the road.
“Initially, the boomslang looked like it had the flap-necked chameleon cornered. But the chameleon decided it was not over and began fighting back.
“The chameleon, surprisingly quick and agile, fought back fiercely, biting the underside of the snake. It even changed colours, shifting from lime to dark green, perhaps to confuse its attacker,” Abrahamson told LatestSightings.com.
He explained that a brown snake eagle was hovering above them, waiting to seize its opportunity, but it was being mobbed by two lilac-breasted rollers.
“The turning point came when the boomslang paused its attack, sensing the eagle overhead. The snake was cautious, afraid of becoming prey itself. But as soon as the eagle left, the snake struck the fatal blow, biting the chameleon below its flap right into its open mouth.
“The eagle returned, perching on a nearby knob thorn tree. Sensing this, the snake quickly vanished into the grass, leaving the dead chameleon hanging in the dead tree.”
