Kamaleont - ritratt ta' Stephen Gatt

Jikber sa 30cm. Normalment hadrani jew kannella bi dbabar cari. Dawn il-kuluri jista' jiskurahom jew jiccarahom. Meta jibza', minbarra li jibdel kuluru, jintefah u jiftah halqu biex jidher akbar u iktar feroci.

Meta l-mara tkun se tbid tinzel minn fuq is-sigar u thaffer hofra fil-hamrija qrib iz-zokk tal-pjanta li tkun fuqha. Imbaghad wara li tbid bejn 20 u 30 bajda, terga' tghattihom bil-hamrija.

Ghalkemm dan ir-rettilu huwa adattat ghall-imsagar, gieli tarah fix-xaghri. Huwa ddahhal f'Malta f'nofs is-seklu dsatax minn missjunarji Protestanti li kienu jgibuh maghhom mill-Afrika ta' Fuq. Dawn kienu jitilquh f'San Giljan fil-gonna ta' dak li wara sar il-kullegg San Injazju tal-Gizwiti. Minn hemm infirex fi bnadi ohra tal-gzira ta' Malta. Ghadu mhux maghruf f'Ghawdex. Frekwenti.

Chamaleo chamaeleon (Mediterranean Chameleon)

Mediterranean Chameleon - photo by Stephen Gatt

This reptile grows up to 30cm in length. It is usually green or brown with pale spots. These colours can be darkened or faded depending upon its surroundings. When frightened, besides changing its colours, the chameleon opens its mouth and inflates itself in order to appear larger and more frightening to its aggressor.

When about to lay eggs, the female descends from the tree and digs a hole in the soil beneath it. There she lays from 20-30 eggs and buries them.

Although the chameleon is adapted to live in the forest, one can often see it in the garigue. It was introduced in Malta in the middle of the 19th Century by Protestant missionaries who brought it from Northern Africa. They then let it free in the gardens of what later became the Jesuits' college of St. Ignatius in St. Julian's. From there it spread to other parts of the Maltese islands. It hasn't been found in Gozo yet. Frequent.

Chamaleo chamaeleon (Kamaleont)

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