Chameleons in your garden
Chameleons are known as one of the few animals that can change skin colour.
“WE only have two different chameleon species in the Durban South area, the flap-neck chameleon and the KwaZulu-dwarf chameleon,” said nature enthusiast, Warren Dick.
According to him, chameleons are quite common in some areas of Durban South, however, mostly restricted to nature reserves and areas of coastal forest and grasslands.
“Every time I post a picture on Facebook of a chameleon, I always get folks commenting on how they have not seen one in so many years. Sadly, it is quite true as they have become extinct in gardens. I remember my parents telling me stories of how, not too long ago, they could find a chameleon in nearly every bush or shrub in the garden. They have become so rare because of people’s need of living in a pristine, well-trimmed, insect free garden. Pesticide, cats and dogs are all enemies of wildlife as a whole.”
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The flap-neck chameleon is quite a large lizard, measuring about 15cm in body length, with a prehensile tail measuring just as long. These chameleons are generally green in colour, making them difficult to see during daylight hours. When feeling threatened they often turn dark, with almost black patches and spots on their bodies. They will also inflate themselves to look bigger, hissing and gaping their bright pink mouth.
The KwaZulu-dwarf chameleon is a small chameleon measuring about 7cm long, with an equally long prehensile tail. These chameleons are mostly brown in colour, varying shades depending on the plant they find themselves on.
Chameleons feed on all sorts of insects which are caught using their long sticky tongue that can measure just as long as their bodies. Chameleons have very unusual eyes, being able to move them independently giving them surround vision. The only blind spots they have is just behind the head and just in front of their noses. They can also see far better than humans.
Breeding:
The flap-neck chameleon lays eggs in late summer, in a hole that they dig in the ground. Once laid, the eggs are covered up and the chameleon leaves. The eggs take almost a year to hatch.
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The KwaZulu-dwarf chameleon gives live birth to about three or four babies at a time.
The flap-neck chameleon is the most common and widespread chameleon species in South Africa, whereas the KwaZulu-dwarf chameleon is listed as threatened, only being found within the Durban area.
Chameleons are, unfortunately, highly sought after in the pet trade, however it is illegal to keep or sell them into captivity.
“You will find that most of us adults have kept a chameleon as a pet at some point in our lives and many want to go on and share this experience with their children, but I really want to encourage you to change the narrative because it is wrong and at the end of the day its not good for the animal. If you are lucky enough to see a chameleon in your garden or nature reserve, by all means, pick it up gently, handle it a bit, show your children, but then put it back where you found it, letting it go free. That way future children might also have the chance to marvel at a chameleon in the wild. Take nothing from nature but photos.”
Contact Warren to have some of your interesting spiders, snakes or other wildlife identified. Call or WhatsApp him on 072 211 0353. Follow the conversation on Facebook, Warren’s Small World.
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