The tiger chameleon
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Appearance - 16cm long - Relatively small - Colour = light grey to bold yellow - Usually with black spots - Pale grey chin & throat - Pointed chin – key feature = 3mm long Habitat - Lives in Seychelles (only on islands Mahé, Silhouette and Praslin) - Tropical weather - Live in some forests with high plant diversity - Hunts by using tongue at fast speeds - Tongue has tipped in a deadly suction pad capable of ensnaring prey Behaviours - Eat = insects and other small animals - Use tongue to protect themselves - Solitary animal - The chameleons use the pineapple trees to plant there eggs - Breed 5 – 10 eggs in one go Cause for Loss of Numbers - Restricted range of 3 islands to live on - Population of only 2,000 individuals - Vulnerable to change in environment - Habitat degradation - Caused by alien pants (cinnamon) Action - The chameleon & habitat are protected - Protected in national parks in the islands - Habitat restoration are under go - Alien plant control on Praslin - Suggested that forested areas should have legal protection - Could create a wildlife sanctuary where the animals roam free in a large area - Rehabilitation on the islands - Introduce species onto mainlands and new island |
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Appearance:
The tiger chameleon is one of the most endangered chameleons to live and is very rare with only 2,000 individuals left. This chameleon is relatively small, only reaching 16cm long, making it easy for prey to eat. The colour of the tiger chameleon is a light to bold yellow colour as it varies during the seasons. They usually have black spots on their body and a pale grey chin & throat. One unique appearance of the tiger chameleon is the pointed chin that can reach 3mm long. Habitat: The tiger chameleon lives in the Seychelles which is a group of islands of the Indian Ocean. These chameleons only live on 3 of 115 islands which includes; Mahe, Silhouette and Praslin, the weather there is tropical making it difficult for the chameleons to survive. Some of the chameleons live in forests with high plant diversity. The tiger chameleon hunts by using their tongue at fast speeds, this tongue has a tipped end which has a deadly suction which is capable of ensnaring prey. Behaviour: The tiger chameleon eats only small insects or other small animals, they use their tongue to eat these foods but also use it as protection from other predators. The chameleon is a solitary animal but may be found in small groups. The chameleon uses the pineapple trees which are unique to the islands of Seychelles to plant their eggs on. The tiger chameleons have trouble breeding fast with only 5-10 eggs in one go, and they only breed rarely. Cause for loss of numbers: The tiger chameleon has limited numbers because of the fact they only live on 3 of the 115 islands. The population is as low as 2,000 because of a few reasons including the fact they are vulnerable to change in environment, the habitat degradation and because of the alien plant invasion on the islands such as cinnamon which kills the tiger chameleon. Action: The tiger chameleon and habitat are now protected on all 3 islands, they are also protected in national parks on the islands. Habitat restoration is undergo to help restore the environment of the chameleon. Alien plant control is undergo on Praslin, to help protect the nature and environment of the chameleon. It has been suggested that forested areas should have legal protection. Other options to help could be that they need to create a wildlife sanctuary where the animals get to roam free, rehabilitation on the islands could be another option. Introducing the species into the mainland and new islands. |