If chameleons are something new to you, you might not know if they are predators or prey. This is one of the most common questions being asked whenever someone wants to know more about chameleons. After doing some research online, here is what I’ve found.
Chameleons are both predators and prey. They often prey on insects and sometimes, small animals. However, chameleons also have predators, usually big birds, and snakes.
In this article, I will discuss the animals that chameleons prey on and also those that are predators to chameleons. Stick around to find out more about the preys and predators of chameleons.
Chameleons As Predators
Even though chameleons can be predators, they are pretty low on the food chain the in wild. Despite that, what they prey on can be quite shocking.
What Animals Do Chameleons Prey On?
Chameleons usually prey on insects. However, some larger chameleons also prey on small animals such as birds or other lizards. In some rare situations, chameleons will also eat their own kind.
Some of the most common insects that chameleons eat are locusts, grasshoppers, crickets, mantids, and stick insects.
If the chameleon is of a larger size, don’t be surprised to see it eat birds and lizards that are of a smaller size.
How Do Chameleons Catch Their Preys?
These cute little lizards are actually like ninjas when trying to eat their prey. Once a chameleon spots its target with its brilliant eyesight, it will move very slowly towards it.
When in range, they will shoot their tongue out and grab onto their prey like a suction cup on a glass panel. Chameleons are usually very accurate with this, they rarely miss.
On top of that, their tongues shoot out so fast that their prey has no time to react to it. Once the tongue sticks onto its victim, there is no escaping.
For small insects, chameleons can eat them in one bite but they won’t be able to do that with birds or other lizards that they also sometimes eat.
When a large chameleon eats a bird or another lizard, it will take some time for it to chew and swallow it due to the size.
Chameleons As Preys
Chameleons are that big, it shouldn’t surprise you that they get preyed on quite a lot. Let’s have a look at what animals hunt chameleons for a meal.
What Are Chameleons’ Predators?
Some of the most common predators of chameleons in the wild are big birds and snakes.
To be more specific, these predators include the boomslang snakes, cuckoo hawks, vine snakes, and others.
Chameleons’ predators are usually much larger than them. There’s little to no chance a chameleon will be able to fight them off.
Chameleons Protection From Predators
When chameleons spot a predator, they will attempt to protect themselves by changing colors and blend into the environment. In fact, they are very good at camouflage and it works most of the time.
However, there will be times where camouflage doesn’t work for them. In those instances, chameleons will use other defense mechanisms.
These include hissing, opening its mouth, and make itself look bigger by puffing up its chin. This is the chameleons’ attempt to make themselves intimating and fierce to try and scare off the predator.
To humans, chameleons are not always docile, but in the wild, they are actually very shy and timid animals. When faced with danger, chameleons always prefer to hide or run away and avoid fighting whenever possible.
Conclusion
Chameleons are both predators and prey but they are pretty low in the food chain. Some of the most common things chameleons prey on are insects.
With larger chameleons, it’s possible that they also prey on small birds and lizards. On the other hand, big birds and snakes are usually predators of chameleons.
One of the best defense mechanisms chameleons have against their predators is camouflage and it works wonders most of the time.
