As his name suggest, the Cape dwarf chameleon is not a large animal, yet very interesting. Let’s find out what is so cool about these creatures.
- Winelands
The Cape dwarf chameleon can be found around the Cape Town area in the Western Cape, and is native to South Africa. This chameleon enjoys habitats where they have plenty of hiding places in bushy scrubs and trees. Therefore, they can be found in bushveld areas, urban gardens and often in the Cape winelands.
2. Slow foot
The scientific name for the Cape dwarf is Bradypodion pumilum. ‘Bradypodion’ is taken from the Greek word meaning ‘slow foot’, describing the slow movement of the chameleon.
3. Reptile and lizard
Chameleons are reptiles, and the Cape dwarf chameleon is part of a small group of chameleons endemic to South Africa. Being the largest of the group, the Cape dwarf is one of 13 other species found in southern Africa. They may look similar, but each species is different and lives in different areas. Chameleons are also part of the family of tree-dwelling lizards. Small granular scales cover their entire body.
4. Those eyes
They have bulging eyes that can look in different directions at the same time. A chameleon can rotate his eyes to see 360° around his body. The chameleon has good eyesight and is able to see small prey over 5 to 10m away.
5. Loooooong tongue
The Cape dwarf chameleon has an exceptionally long tongue and can grab a meal from quite a distance. His tongue is twice the length of his body, and he can shoot it quickly out of his mouth to grab bugs, crickets, flies and other insects.
6. Rock-a-by baby
These chameleons are ovoviviparous, meaning that females don’t lay eggs but they develop inside her body. Up to 12 babies may be born in a litter, and they are less than 5cm in length. They take about a minute to break out of the soft membrane that covers their bodies, and are then instantly able to care for themselves. Babies shed their skin every few weeks as they grow and adults shed every four months or so.
7. Pretty crest
An adult Cape dwarf chameleon is about 15cm in length, and the females are slightly larger than the males. Both males and females sport a nifty crest of spines called tubercles along their back and down their tails. Another crest is also found hanging from the throat. Chameleons have a prehensile tail, meaning it can be used as a fifth limb, assisting with climbing and balance.
8. Get a grip
Chameleons have feet that are perfectly engineered for climbing stems and branches. Each foot has five toes and at the end of each tow is a tiny claw, which aids grip as he moves along the branches.
9. Pigments
Chameleons have colour pigments in their bodies. Cells which produce these pigments lie in different layers of the chameleon’s skin. Upper layers have red and yellow pigments, while the lower layers have blue and green. The darkest colours are found in the lowest layer. As the brain senses changes, hormones are released and tell pigment-bearing cells to sink or enlarge. The pigments then mix, causing a colour change on the chameleon’s outer skin.
10. Changing colours
Contrary to popular belief, chameleons don’t turn the colour of the object they are sitting on. Ultraviolet light, changes in temperature and mood cause chameleons to change their colour. The chameleon can’t control his colour changes – they’re involuntary and controlled by hormones. Scientists now believe that some species of chameleon may actually use the colour change to communicate with each other.
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