Some Aspects of Ecology of the Common Chameleon, Chamaeleo chamaeleon musae (Squamata: Chameleonidae) in Northern Sinai, Egypt

Abstract

Morphometric measurements and aspects of the ecology of Chamaeleo chamaeleon musae were studied in Northern Sinai. There were no significant sexual differences in body size, tail index, casque height and head shape characters for adult C. c. musae . Chameleons were mostly encountered during spring and summer and with a peak in May. Chameleons were most active from 09:00 to 11:00 a.m., and were found roosting on trees during the night. Juveniles were occasionally seen on trees in higher positions than adults. Chameleons fed upon a wide variety of food including insects, arachnids and plant material, assuming both sit-and-wait and active foraging strategies; there was no differences in food items seasonally and no difference in prey size existed between sexes. The reproduction of chameleons occurs from July to December. Females with oviductal eggs were collected from August to November and females produced a single clutch per year. Oviductal eggs in each oviduct were either equal or unequal to each other in number. The smallest gravid female measured 89 mm snout-vent length. The testis size increased to a maximum in summer, but declined gradually in autumn. The smallest male with markedly enlarged testes was 75 mm SVL and was collected in June.