The flap-necked chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis) is one of Africa’s most widespread and easily recognizable chameleons, known for its color-changing ability, gentle nature, and the flap-like extensions on the sides of its neck that give the species its name. Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from South Africa to Ethiopia, this chameleon inhabits a variety of environments, including woodlands, savannas, bushlands, and even suburban gardens, as long as there’s enough vegetation for it to climb and hide.
Adult flap-necked chameleons are medium to large-sized, growing to about 20 to 35 centimeters (8 to 14 inches) in length, including the tail. Their body is laterally flattened, with a prehensile tail used for balance and gripping branches. Their skin is usually green, but can change to brown, yellow, or even pale gray, depending on temperature, mood, or surroundings. They don’t change color to match backgrounds like a mood ring—instead, color changes signal stress, mating readiness, or camouflage, and help regulate their body temperature.
The most distinctive feature is the flap of skin on each side of the neck, which can be raised when the chameleon feels threatened or agitated. When alarmed, it may gape its mouth, hiss, and puff up its body to appear larger. However, these chameleons are generally shy, slow-moving, and non-aggressive, spending most of their time among tree branches or shrubs, where they hunt for food.
Flap-necked chameleons are diurnal hunters, relying on stealth and patience. They have independently rotating eyes, allowing them to scan for prey in two directions at once. Once they spot an insect, both eyes focus forward, and the chameleon strikes with its long, sticky tongue—sometimes extending up to 1.5 times the length of its body—to capture prey with lightning speed. Their diet mainly includes grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, moths, and other small invertebrates.
Distribution
Angola
Botswana
Burundi
Cameroon
Congo-Brazzaville
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gabon
Kenya
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Rwanda
Somalia
South Africa
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
