### Identification The Flap-necked Chameleon (*Chamaeleo dilepis*) is a robust, medium-to-large lizard reaching up to 35cm. Its most diagnostic feature is the pair of large, movable occipital lobes (flaps) located at the back of the head. While usually a vibrant lime green, its color can shift rapidly to brown or near-black. Look for a distinct, pale white lateral stripe running along the lower flanks and one or two rows of white spots. To distinguish it from the Common Chameleon, look at the heels; males possess a small, thorn-like tarsal spur on each hind foot—a subtle but definitive field mark.
### Habitat & Range This is the quintessential chameleon of the African savanna. Its range is vast, spanning from tropical East Africa down to the northern reaches of South Africa. You will encounter them in coastal thickets, moist woodlands, and bushy grasslands, typically from sea level to 1,500 meters. They are remarkably adaptable and are frequent visitors to suburban gardens and orchards across their range.
### Behaviour Observe their "leaf-mimic" gait—a rhythmic, back-and-forth rocking that disguises their movement as a wind-blown leaf. When confronted, they don’t just hide; they perform a high-stakes bluff. They will turn dark, inflate their lungs to double their size, and flare their namesake occipital flaps forward to appear intimidating while hissing aggressively. They are solitary and fiercely territorial, especially during the summer breeding season.
### Diet A master of the "sit-and-wait" ambush, *C. dilepis* feeds primarily on large insects like grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. Using its independently rotating eyes to rangefind, it launches its telescopic, sticky-tipped tongue—which can exceed its body length—at a speed of 20 feet per second to snatch prey.
### Fascinating Fact Despite their arboreal mastery, females become tireless excavators. A single female may descend to the ground and spend over 24 hours digging a tunnel up to 20cm deep to deposit her clutch of 25–50 eggs, carefully backfilling and camouflaging the site before returning to the safety of the canopy.