Warty Or Spiny Chameleon (Furcifer verrucosus)

Island Of Madagascar

Off The East Coast Of Africa

Berenty Reserve

 

Furcifer verrucosus, also known as the warty chameleon, spiny chameleon or crocodile chameleon, is a species of small reptile endemic to Madagascar. The warty chameleon feeds largely on insects which it catches with its long sticky tongue.

 

The warty chameleon is found only on the island of Madagascar including Manderano in the Tulear region. It occurs over much of the west part of the island and in drier parts of the south. It is seldom found in primary rainforest but favours arid disturbed land, including near the sea. It is a terrestrial species and climbs around in low bushes. In hot weather it sometimes retreats into a sandy burrow to keep cool.

 

There are two subspecies, Furcifer v. verrucosus and Furcifer v. semicristatus, the latter being found mainly in the southernmost part of the island. This chameleon is closely related to Oustalet's chameleon Furcifer oustaleti (Malagasy giant chameleon). Wikipedia

 

 

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