FLAP-NECKED CHAMELEON

SCIENTIFIC NAME :-      Chamaeleo dilepis 

OCCURRENCE :-              Tropical and S.Africa

HABITAT :-                     Forest floor

SIZE :-                            Length 25 to 36.5 cm

FAMILY :-                       Chamaeleonidae

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS :-

1. An aggressive tree-dwelling chameleon , its colour varies from green to yellow or reddish brown depending upon the background.
2. It has lobes of membranous skin at the back of his head which are normally held folded but become erect when it is alarmed.
3. The muscular prehensile tail acts as a fifth limb and helps it to stay immobile as it watches for prey.
4. The eyes are large protuberant and the tongue is also protrusible with a sticky tip.
5. It feeds mainly on insects.
6. The female lays 30-40 eggs in a hole dug in the ground and conceals them with grass and twigs.
7. The eggs hatch in about 3 months.