Jackson’s chameleon
Trioceros jacksonii
Common name:
Jackson’s chameleon
Scientific name:
Trioceros jacksonii
Alternative common names:
Description:
Jackson’s chameleons are small to medium-sized chameleons. In its natural range, they live in cool, humid mountain slopes with significant rainfall and vegetation. Jackson’s chameleons are insectivores.They feed on crickets, wax worms, butter worms, cockroaches, house flies or small snails.
Additional Information
Where does this species come from?
East Africa; Kenya and Tanzania
What is its invasive status in South Africa?
NEMBA Category 2 in the Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga and not listed anywhere.
Where in South Africa is it a problem?
Eastern Cape Province, Kwa-Zulu Natal Province, Limpopo Province and Mpumalanga Province.
How does it spread?
Spread via pet trade.
Why is it a problem?
They are substantial threat to native biodiversity of invertebrates, and serious threat especially to endemic species, such as snails. They are swallow whole snails (including shells).
What does it look like?
Description: This chameleon is about 300 mm long; its colour is green bottle. He changes his skin 3 times a year. The male has the head three horns features; two are placed on the front while the third is at the end of the muzzle. At birth, the little chameleon Jackson has one horn of the size of a human fingernail. The female has only one. These characteristics vary depending on the subspecies. Some are smaller than described above, and some have more or less developed horns.
Habitat: They usually occupy plants having a network of multiple branches. Nevertheless, they are sometimes found on isolated sparsely-foliated shrubs or trees as.
Breeding: Most chameleons are oviparous, but Jackson’s chameleon gives birth to live offspring; eight to 30 live young are born after a five- to six-month gestation. At approximately 9 months to 1 year old, a healthy Jackson’s chameleon will be ready to breed.