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| Chamaeleo chamaeleon |
I’ve all the time wished to see a Frequent Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon). Solely as soon as having visited a spot throughout the vary the place they may have been discovered prior to now (Crete) that isn’t shocking. So this one present in southern Portugal between a golf course and a tidal lagoon throughout a Naturetrek* journey earlier this month was a delight.
The chameleons dwell in low pine bushes on sandy soil alongside the southern coast of Portugal and Spain. The breeding season comes a lot later within the yr. Then males take to the bottom so as to seek for females which they are going to guard. Eggs are laid in tender sandy soil. Development of the younger is fast.
Chameleons generally are attention-grabbing in that they’ve broadly completely different lifespans. Some are successfully an ‘annual’, all of the previous era dying earlier than their eggs have hatched. On the different excessive, some species dwell for ten or extra years. The Frequent Chameleon is on the low finish of the vary: 2-3 years.
The Frequent Chameleon happens alongside the coastal area of North Africa, the Center East and Turkey after which down the japanese aspect of the Purple Sea. To these of us of a sure age, tales of chameleons in North Africa have been introduced again by those that had served within the British Eighth and First Armies or in RAF bases in Egypt. The swivelling eyes, the tongue, the color adjustments and their deliberate motion alongside branches have been recounted to the extent that it appeared the entire inhabitants knew of chameleons and their habits. For some troopers encounters with wildlife (generally, like jerboas and fennec foxes—and chameleons—reared and saved as pets) have been their solely experiences of conflict shared with their households. Herpetologists on each side have been identified to have studied the animals encountered in North Africa and I dare say that tales of the chameleons additionally reached the youngsters in Germany.
Not too long ago, it has been argued that the chameleon was launched into southern Spain and Portugal however with broadly differing dates. The distribution map in IUCN’s Purple Listing reveals that a part of the vary as such. I’m skeptical. After all of the ranges of different species of reptile span the Straits of Gibraltar.
A chameleon and Portuguese Egg Tarts—who may need for extra?
*Naturetrek’s Spring in Southern Portugal brilliantly led by Lara Broom (who is aware of learn how to spot a chameleon) and Glyn Evans.