The Namaqua chameleon (Chamaeleo namaquensis) is one of the largest in southern Africa and grows up to 25cm in length. Like all chameleons, the Namaqua has a variety of unique anatomical characteristics that diff er

from all other reptile species. They are equipped with special cells under their skin called chromatophores and melanophores that contain pigment. Nerves rearrange the pigment in the cells and this causes the chameleon to change colour.

Contrary to popular belief, chameleons do not change their colour consciously, rather the change is physiological and a chameleon will change colour if stressed, sick or threatened. The Namaqua chameleon uses thermoregulation, in that it becomes darker to attract heat and lighter to cool down.

The chameleon’s other unique characteristic is its tongue, which can be projected great distances and at great speeds to catch insects. The tongue is spring-loaded,

using a combination of bones and muscles and the sticky end of the tongue makes escape almost impossible (as shown above).

HABITATThe Namaqua chameleon (below) is found in the Namib desert, anywhere from southwestern South Africa to Namibia and Angola. The desert is the oldest on Earth and receives just 10mm of rain each year. The Namaqua chameleon is the only species of chameleon that is able to live in this habitat, though its survival is aided by the presence of frequent fogs that form over the desert as the warm air condenses over the cold ocean.

DIET The chameleon is an insectivore and will prey upon fl ies, grasshoppers, crickets and insect larvae. The Namaqua chameleon is unique as it is known to eat lizards.

OFFSPRINGChameleons tend to be solitary animals, so when it meets another of the opposite sex it almost always ends in mating as the opportunity is rare and vital for the species’ population. Mating can last

for anywhere between 10 and 30 minutes. The Namaqua female then leaves the male and after a gestation period of one to two months the female will dig a hole using her front legs and bury a clutch of between 20 and 60 eggs.

After a three-month incubation period the young hatch, starting life at 3 to 5cm long and take about a year to reach maturity.

Chameleons receive no parental care and are vulnerable for the fi rst years of life. Assisted by the ability to shed its skin, the chameleon never stops growing, although the rate of growth slows as it gets older. However, its overall life is relatively short, at about fi ve years in the wild.

There are two special features that make the chameleon a stand out from its reptile cousins…

Chameleone makes escape almost impossible (as shown

ATqua chameleon (below) is found in the Namib

DIETThe chameleon is angrasshoppers, cricketchameleon is unique

OFFSPRINChameleons tit meets anoalways endsand vital for

for anywheNamaquaa gestatiofemale wbury a cl

After a three-mhatch, starting life atto reach maturity.

ioa

tue

on and

icky end of e makes escape almost impossible (as shown

GROUNDEDThe Namaqua

chameleon is mostly terrestrial but has occasionally been spotted perched

in bushes.

TONGUE The tongue of

a chameleon has been clocked at

20km/h.

FOSSILSChameleons

evolved from a common ancestor about 100 million

years ago when dinosaurs roamed

the Earth.

360O VIEW Its most developed

sense is sight, enabling it to

have an almost 360 degree view without turning

its head.

EARSChameleons

have a terrible sense of hearing as they lack external ear openings and

eardrums.

POSTER SERIES

SOURCE: Chameleons of Southern Africa, by Krystal Tolley

and Marius Burger (Struik Publishers, Cape Town, 2007)

■ This poster complements the Mercury’s BBC Earth

David Attenborough Wildlife Collection NIE kit.

DVD to watch is Life: Reptiles & Amphibians (G).

Compiled by Georgina Cook.

Images: Rupert Barrington, Thinkstock

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Namaqua chameleon distribution