Rhampholeon spectrum
Encyclopedia
The Spectral Pygmy Chameleon (Rhampholeon spectrum) is one of the so-called "dwarf chameleons", aka "leaf chameleons", from mainland Africa
.
They are small, not exceeding 4" (10 cm), with a very short, albeit prehensile, tail. They tend to frequent the ground and low shrubbery in forested areas.
They are capable of color change, but generally in somber shades of tan to gray. They also have a ventral stripe from the eye to above the base of the tail which, however, is not always displayed in lieu of plain ground colors. They are capable of quite striking coloration in the form of streaks and blotches.
In spite of their small size, plain color, and often terrestrial habits, they are otherwise very much like their larger chameleon cousins in possessing independently rotating eye sockets, opposable digits on the front and back feet, and a projectile tongue.
These animals seem to prefer cooler temperatures, e.g. room temperature, and doesn't seem to require direct sun or a basking area, although bright shade is appreciated. They don't use water pans and should be misted directly once or twice a day, and their habitat should be fairly moist as well. They eat small invertebrate
s, such as pinhead crickets
or fruit flies
.
They are extremely sedentary, but relatively easy to care for, given the above parameters, and require little space: a 20 to 40 gallon enclosure is large enough for one individual. Small green plants, such as fern
s, should be provided for climbing and humidification, although dry twigs are also used. Although said to be non-territorial (unlike other chameleons), it is suggested to keep them separately.
Males may be differentiated from females by the wider tail base. Their reproductive habits are poorly known.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
They are small, not exceeding 4" (10 cm), with a very short, albeit prehensile, tail. They tend to frequent the ground and low shrubbery in forested areas.
They are capable of color change, but generally in somber shades of tan to gray. They also have a ventral stripe from the eye to above the base of the tail which, however, is not always displayed in lieu of plain ground colors. They are capable of quite striking coloration in the form of streaks and blotches.
In spite of their small size, plain color, and often terrestrial habits, they are otherwise very much like their larger chameleon cousins in possessing independently rotating eye sockets, opposable digits on the front and back feet, and a projectile tongue.
These animals seem to prefer cooler temperatures, e.g. room temperature, and doesn't seem to require direct sun or a basking area, although bright shade is appreciated. They don't use water pans and should be misted directly once or twice a day, and their habitat should be fairly moist as well. They eat small invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s, such as pinhead crickets
Cricket (insect)
Crickets, family Gryllidae , are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets . They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets...
or fruit flies
Tephritidae
Tephritidae is one of two fly families referred to as "fruit flies", the other family being Drosophilidae. Tephritidae does not include the biological model organisms of the genus Drosophila , which is often called the "common fruit fly". There are nearly 5,000 described species of tephritid...
.
They are extremely sedentary, but relatively easy to care for, given the above parameters, and require little space: a 20 to 40 gallon enclosure is large enough for one individual. Small green plants, such as fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s, should be provided for climbing and humidification, although dry twigs are also used. Although said to be non-territorial (unlike other chameleons), it is suggested to keep them separately.
Males may be differentiated from females by the wider tail base. Their reproductive habits are poorly known.