A Native Floridian

[Junebug]

There was a time when Florida Cameleons lived here in abundance. Their colors change from shades of brown to bright green. As a child I used to see them all the time. Unfortunately, since the introduction of Cuban Treefrogs and Cuban Lizards their numbers have dramatically decreased. I feel blessed to have this endangered little guy hanging out in my shade house.

[susiep]

Oh, I love these guys! You are right, they are so rare now. We used to play with them when I was a child. Did you ever let them bite on your earlobes and walk around wearing them like earrings? We did! That was some kind of weird elementary school entertainment in the days before computers. hehe

[flhiker]

Maybe it just coincidence but I have seen them much more often lately. I seen 2 in my backyard yesterday and about 10 in the past couple months. Maybe there making a comeback.

[natasha]

great colour! can be easily spotted when green!

[trdyl]

Cool pics! Hopefully they are on a comeback.

[Tindomul]

Ooh, very cool!!! I love the green on them.
Susan, that is just too funny, lizard earings. Haha.

[cb977]

We've seen a number of them since winter ended...I think the cold killed off many of the invaders! YAY!!!

Here's one of the regulars around here:

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by cb977

We've seen a number of them since winter ended...I think the cold killed off many of the invaders! YAY!!!

Here's one of the regulars around here:

While I dont live in Florida I do pay attention to shuch things ...I saw on the news where the cold did kill off a lot of the pet trade invaders like pythons and iguanas and such Sue is probably correct ....

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by susiep

Oh, I love these guys! You are right, they are so rare now. We used to play with them when I was a child. Did you ever let them bite on your earlobes and walk around wearing them like earrings? We did! That was some kind of weird elementary school entertainment in the days before computers. hehe

I never let them hang from my ear lobes but I did try keeping one as a pet. I kept him in a container and fed him fish food. I'd tap him on the nose and when he got mad enough to open his mouth I'd shove it in. Thank goodness I've outgrown that stage. Now I just admire them and take their pictures.

[Junebug]

There has been a dramatic decline in the invasive species around my house. I've noticed the one's that managed to survive the freeze are very big though, and there have been fewer hatchlings.
This is good news for the cameleon but bad news for humans. Our Florida bird, the mosquito, will probably eat us alive this year.