Species Identification

[DanielBorn]

Hi All,

I'm not a chameleon owner, but am fascinated by the reptiles. This past weekend, while camping at a game park in the North-West province in South Africa, I came across a small chameleon about 10-14cm in length. It's bright yellow in colour and turned almost completely black when I approached. It puffed its body up and hissed, attempting to bite my hand when trying to take a photograph to identify the animal.

I have a book on the reptiles in South Africa, but this chameleon is definitely not in the book, leading me to think it must be a rarer species, or a very peculiar colour pattern for a more common species.

Is there anyone in this forum who could help me identify the chameleon, I have attached two photographs.

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[MrCus]

hi daniel,

can you post a link to your picture. I cannot see the pics.

 

[DanielBorn]

Sorry, must have done something wrong when trying to add the photo's.

Here's the links...
http://twitpic.com/4ja4g
http://twitpic.com/4ja43

Thanks.

 

[MrCus]

maybe a female Chamaeleo africanus, but I am not sure

picture from AGA-international.de

 

[eisentrauti]

It's probably Chamaeleo dilepis. That species and Chamaeleo namaquensis are the only species from the genus Chamaeleo in SA. But Chamaeleo namaquensis looks very different to the dilepis

 

[DanielBorn]

Thanks for all the responses. After looking at other pics on the internet, it does look like a Chamaeleo dilepis

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[kinyonga]

Africanus come from northern areas and as far as I know have never been found in SA.