The Camouflage Expert

It is always a special thrill to come across nature’s camouflage expert, the Flap Necked Chameleon. This unique reptile is fascinating in the way it goes about its daily life. As you can see from the images, the chameleon is lime-green in color, indicating a relaxed and calm state. This little chap wasn’t bothered by our presence, allowing us the rare opportunity to observe him for a while longer. When stressed, the Flap Necked Chameleon will display dark colors, which can help deter predators.

Myths and Realities of the Flap Necked Chameleon

In Zululand, where I’m from, the local Zulu men would tell stories about not locking eyes with chameleons, as they believed the creatures could shoot bolts of lightning from their mouths! They said such an encounter would be fatal. However, I soon realized these tales were meant to keep children from playing with and accidentally harming these fascinating reptiles.

The True Story: How the Flap Necked Chameleon Hunts

Now, let me tell you the real story of the chameleon. They spot their food with two independently movable eyes, allowing them to maximize their field of view and locate prey in trees. Their diet mainly consists of various invertebrates, although larger individuals may occasionally hunt geckos and even smaller chameleons!