Chameleon

We saw this handsome chappie out for a walk on our recent trip to the Algarve -




He even posed for a portrait photo -




Now you see me .....




..... now you don't!

 

You are very lucky as I thought they were uncommon anywhere in the Med region even though they are native.:thumb:

 

Wow, Sis ... he turned out a real beauty! He must have liked your voice.

Doesn't he hide well in the Opuntia?

Fantastic shots. :thumb:

 

Thanks strongy and Sis.

Strongy, I was very surprised when Mr K saw him crossing the road right in front of us. I jumped out of the car, camera at the ready, and he ran off when he saw me - and could he ever move! I have always thought of them as being slow.

Anyway, when he climbed up a fence pole, I "rescued" him and put him through the fence.

Not only was he a fast walker, he was very strong too. When I picked him up, he caught hold of my finger in a vise-like grip.

Mr K said not to show the pics where I am holding him, said it looks like I am squashing the poor thing. :D

 

It, he/she really is a beauty as Sis says, the mouth open pic is a defence posture supposed to frighten you off, glad you put it in a safer place.:thumb:
One of the reasons they are not very numerous apart from predation is that the females find birth of the live young so traumatic and strenuous that they can sometimes die from it and many don't even reach their third year. Wish I was there to see it.

 

Strongy, what an interesting piece of information, thanks. Now I am especially glad that Mr K saw and stopped in time so that he could be taken off the road. Hope that he stays clear in future and lives for many years still.

I've cropped my hand out of the next pics as much as I could. Just hope nobody says the poor thing is screaming because I am squashing him! I was certainly being very careful not to do so.

One for you and one for me, Strongy.

Look, you can even see his tiny teeth!

 

Even better Kedi, fantastic detail.:thumb:

 

Lovely shots Kedi well spotted.:thumb:

 

He is a cutie!