Unknown Chameleon

[Dragonspeed]

We found this guy sitting in the middle of the road in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dragonspeed/27348493876/in/album-72157666578964504/

Was hoping that someone might be able to help ID this beauty.

 

[Duma]

I was just there! That's amazing you saw that!

 

[Theveiled]

I think it looks like a Senegal but am not sure

 

[DaChameleonKing]

I was thinking flap neck.

 

[Dragonspeed]

I'm tending toward GRACEFUL... patterning looks similar. Habitat location is good.. Found in Tanzania.

 

[jpowell86]

Chamaeleo dilepis. The larger occipital lobes gives it away. Nice find!

 

[DaChameleonKing]

I was right!!! Yay!

 

[Dragonspeed]

Yup, looks like Flap Neck. Thanks guys. We almost ran over this guy. Our guide was quick enough to see him and make sure that he went under the center of the truck and not under the wheels. Then we stopped, and took pictures

 

[Carlton]

Flap neck doing the great open ground shuffle. I've read that in some places chams are considered such bad luck or evil that motorists will wreck their car to avoid running one over. On my trip to Madagascar one of the first chams we saw was a F. willsii crossing a logging road. WE almost ran over it. Everyone leaped out of the car, scooped up the furious little guy, admired him and took pics, then carried him across to safety. Never saw another on that trip. I've wanted to keep one ever since.

 

[WAMBO]

Very cool!

 

[Chris Anderson]

Its a flap-necked chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis).

Chris