Bradypodion melanocephalum – KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon
Size:
A small chameleon not exceeding 130mm
Colour:
A brownish grey nondescript chameleon which may light white or small orange blotches on its sides.
Habitat:
Common along forested fringes favoring thin wiry vegetation such as the invasive balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum), reeds along waterways and tall roadside grasses of the Hyparrhenia family. As well as becoming quite established in indigenous planted gardens.
Field Notes:
A locally abundant species when given the correct vegetation type and conditions. Which can be seen in numbers in ecotones amongst the expansive sugarcane fields along the coast. Typically not making use of large trees and bushes due to the small grasping size of their feet. Over recent years due the the clearing of natural vegetation for residential and industrial development their habitat is decreasing certainly in the greater Durban area.