Sunday, March 18, 2012

Chameleons and calotes

This here is a garden lizard, aka onaan aka "bloodsucker"!

Probably called bloodsucker, as its throat turns a bloody red during courtship.
As also this -

Among the teak flowers, high up, on the prowl for butterflies.  



But this here is an Indian chameleon!

Chamaeleo zeylanicus.  Fixing me with a beady stare, as its skin moults.  I did not see that long tongue of his.

Eyes shut.  They have a long tail, almost like a fifth limb.


And this here, is a video of one of the six chameleons seen in the Snake Park, Guindy enclosure.  Watch it, and see those eyes, as they move independent of each other, and the chameleon moves slowly along the tree branch.

11 comments:

  1. Splendid video giving close up of the webcam like eye movements. Thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. It's a cool creature Mr Ramakrishnan, thanks! For the first time I appreciated a zoo enclosure as an educational tool.

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  2. Some interesting facts about Avatar 2 from Murugan!

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  3. Amazing! Well filmed. I love how weird they are!
    Fact is truly stranger than fiction!! Ha ha ha! Will share this with the kids when they get home from school, for sure! Thank you so much for filming and for sharing!

    -Kaveri

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    Replies
    1. Yes Kaveri, the chameleon looked so serious and wise! Do go take a look at the Snake Park, Nandan will enjoy them!

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  4. I want eyes like that! That was such a cool video - was it in slow motion, or did that chameleon really move that slowly?
    Kamini.

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  5. Kamini, ha ha, you would look very strange with eyes like that!! (But I know what you mean, it would be so useful!) No, it's not slow motion, that's their speed of movement.

    I think they do not move too fast, but their tongues come out at lightning sped to pick up unsuspecting prey.

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  6. Marvelous…..
    bangalorewithlove.com

    ReplyDelete

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