Bradypodion melanocephalum With Neonates

[melanocephalum]

Bradypodium melanocephalum - Kwa Zulu Natal Dwarf Chameleon.
This species is quite common where suitable habitat occours along the Southern Coastal Regions of Kwa Zulu Natal , their habitat varies from population to population they are quite isolated in terms of population some only occur on the tall dry grass stems whilst others like the ones pictured below occour on the more woody stems. This female pictured was found about 2 meters from the road surface approximately 1.7m from ground level.
Produced 13 neonates.


All photo's taken in Situ.

7

How Small Are The Babies?

This Small On A Match Stick.

 

[Gensen]

Amazing!

What an amazing group of pictures!

 

[Syn]

Great pictures, thank you for sharing.

 

[jessica]

Your photos are stunning! I really like the one with the female and the baby face to face.

Is it typical to see the female around the babies?

 

[Trace]

You know, everyone always wants to go to Madagascar to see the ubiquitous Panther and Parsons Chameleons but I think the species found in South Africa are FAR more interesting. One day I'll get there to do some field herping.

Do these guys have several litters a year or are they more season dependant like some of the Trioceros?

Thanks for the detailed information and pics. I look forward to seeing more.

 

[Cainschams]

You know, everyone always wants to go to Madagascar to see the ubiquitous Panther and Parsons Chameleons but I think the species found in South Africa are FAR more interesting..

I have to agree!

Thanks for sharing. I hope you will have more for us to come!!

 

[eisentrauti]

Always great to see some Bradypodions here ! Thanks for posting !

 

[JaxyGirl]

Those are some amazing pictures!! Thanks so much for sharing them!

 

[Thompson]

Wow amazing pictures! What an interesting chameleon, and the babies are so small!!

 

[spottedcircus]

Those pictures are awesome..I love little chams that live bear!!

 

[Monkeykungphu]

Thanks for sharing those, really neat pictures!

 

[melanocephalum]

Your photos are stunning! I really like the one with the female and the baby face to face.

Is it typical to see the female around the babies?

It is fairy typical althought the female moved off shortly after.

You know, everyone always wants to go to Madagascar to see the ubiquitous Panther and Parsons Chameleons but I think the species found in South Africa are FAR more interesting. One day I'll get there to do some field herping.

Do these guys have several litters a year or are they more season dependant like some of the Trioceros?

Thanks for the detailed information and pics. I look forward to seeing more.

Exactly! He he although finding all the species in Madagascar would be a little more scenic then these here in Souther Africa.
I had a female drop babies twice in a year but not twice in the same season after giving birth they really do look like moving skeletons.

 

[laurie]

The babies are a wonder. I have yet to handle live babies. You did a great job on the pictures and that is a cham I know nothing about so thanks much.

 

[chameleonneeds]

Hey Ty, nice pics, finaly lol

They look great hay.

I just remembered that I am going to be at the KZN South Coast in December 22-5 January.
If your around and I can meet up with you then I rate we should go for a herping trip, and hopefuly find some chams.
Let me know if youl be around though.

 

[Eszzie]

Amazing photos! I'm amazed mummy didn't eat the babies.. I though chameleon usually leave the babies behind or they would get eaten?

 

[melanocephalum]

Amazing photos! I'm amazed mummy didn't eat the babies.. I though chameleon usually leave the babies behind or they would get eaten?

I have never seen the maternal parent feed on the offspring how ever i am not sure if perhaps males may do so.


@chameleonneeds

It is not about looking its about finding ha ha, they are easy to find especially around that time.
PM me closer to the time

 

[chameleonneeds]

Lol, sweet. I always have the ambition to look for chams so if your right then I should find some
I got my parents to drive me around a lot when I was in Mpumalanga to find some transvaalense, I only found 1 which was dead.... I never got the chance to look at night though...
I went to all the major spots though, Mt. Sheba, Sabi, Mac Mac falls, Graskop, Gods Window, Pilgrims rest.
The dead female was found at Mac Mac falls by the way, and she was on a rock on the side of a foot path

I will drop you a PM closer to the time.

 

[melanocephalum]

If you dont look at night then you havent looked at all

 

[chameleonneeds]

I guess so, funny thing is though when Im in the Cape I find pumilum during the day, and if I look hard enough during December time I can find almost 50 in a 2 week time period.
I have also looked for them during the night though only found 3 babies which I actualy caught and released earlier the same day.

 

[ilovechameleons]

Excellent pictures. I love all the babies ones.