Now it’s summer we have to start getting our eyes used to spotting the ever so elusive chameleon! They are cold blooded and hide somewhere warm during our winter but now they are back. Most people are under the impression that chameleons change colour simply to camouflage themselves but this is not entirely true as they also use colours to indicate their mood. For example, most of the time they are a light shade of green indicating calm but if threatened they will start turning a darker colour showing aggression, whilst hissing occasionally in the same way a snake does. They do use their light green colour to aid them in hunting. Once they spot a potential prey they lock their eyes on to it and stand completely still waiting for it to get close enough. Once in range they shoot their tongue out to snatch the prey. The time from the tongue exiting the mouth to returning is approximately three hundredths of a second. And the tongue is about the length of the chameleon’s body! Although these animals may seem well camouflaged, they are still preyed upon by birds as well as snakes. To decrease the chance of being taken by a bird whilst sleeping, chameleons rest on flimsy branches so that a bird cannot get a grip on the tree to grab them. These fascinating creatures remain a special sight to see, time after time!
