Female Cape Dwarf Chameleon

[Bradypod]

Young adult female Cape Dwarf.
This is what one gets with a lousy "happy snapper" type camera
SLR ready soon.
The weather here in the Western Province of South Africa has been cold, windy and wet.
Nothing disappears as effectively and completely as a Cape Dwarf in adverse conditions!
This young lady came to visit this afternoon.

 

[kinyonga]

What else can I say but awesome??
What's the temperature there? How cold is the coldest it gets there?
Do you know where they disappear to?

 

[Bradypod]

Although I have occasionally found them out in the bad weather, I am sure that they penetrate dense bush and become dormant until they warm up again.
Average temps here range from about 15%C to 30%C.
Our climate is described as "Mediterranean" but the fierce winds are something to experience .... hence the name "Cape of Storms".
Our chameleons have become adept at surviving sudden weather swings.
It will go as cold as 8%C here with regular snow on the mountains in winter.

 

[Cainschams]

Definitely cool!! The male in the other thread is pretty badass too!! Keep the pics coming!!

 

[danibug23]

thats so awesome! we enjoy pictures

 

[okiroo]

wow shes pritty cool! looking forward to more pics

 

[kinyonga]

Thanks for the information! Interesting to know how cold it can get and they still survive it! Reminds me of C. chamaeleons.

 

[Bradypod]

The funny thing with these chameleons is that as tough as they seem in the wild, they usually do not do well indoors.
With all the added predators that they have to deal with (mainly cats), they are becoming more scarce.
I can see the time coming where outdoor protective enclosures will be necessary in towns.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Is there special preserves for some of these South African Dwarf chameleons? I know the range of some of these species is small and South Africa does a good job conserving their wildlife. If I recall correctly I have read some of these species are being actively conserved and protected.

 

[kolorburst chams]

Those pics are very cool

 

[Bradypod]

Thanks all for your comments

Yes Motherlode Chameleon, the protective legislation is strict here but unfortunately this is not protecting the town-dwelling chams.
Garden walls also restrict their movements, causing problems with the gene pool.
On the bright side, the rural and mountainous areas still support healthy populations and I personally believe that there is no danger of extinction.
As much as I admire cats, they are wreaking havoc on the suburban chameleons.
Fortunately, a lot of folk here are becoming aware of the chameleons in their gardens and are actively protecting them.

 

[Bradypod]

Kinyonga, I spent six months in London, Ontario many years back.
We lived next to the Thames River and I never in my life, to this day, saw so many snakes in one place!
I now read that some species are threatened there.
From abundance to threatened.... not cool but happening wherever man makes his home.

 

[kinyonga]

Interesting! Do you know what kind of snakes you saw?? Perhaps there were some hibernacula there? Do you mind me asking why you were there?

As you can see from this there are some endangered, some threatened, etc....
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Species/2ColumnSubPage/276722.html

 

[Bradypod]

No, I did not find any hibernacula. I think the snakes were pretty active already when we moved into the house on Wortley Rd. where all the snakes were found. I did not spend a winter there.
My parents emigrated to Canada but my dad did not get the post he was offered, so we came back again.
I remember a garter snake and a pretty green species as well as many others.
Unfortunately I did not get to learn their names.
As I said, it was a long time ago.

 

[Bradypod]

Went out in the howling wind with the camera today but the chameleons had more sense than to be hanging around in the bad weather.

 

[kinyonga]

Guess the chameleons had more sense than you then! (evil grin)

There are quite a few species endangered, etc. here in Ontario....
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Species/2ColumnSubPage/276503.html

 

[Bradypod]

"Guess the chameleons had more sense than you then! (evil grin)"

Lol... as usual!