The battle unfolded in a nearby tree which, without foliage, allowed the witnesses to clearly view the unfolding confrontation.
Snake identified as a boomslang
The chameleon was clearly visible with its bright yellow colouring. It held the attention of a snake, which coiled around the branches of the tree.
Initially the witnesses had believe the snake to be a black mamba because of the tone of its skin.
However, the snake was actually a boomslang, as Darryl identified it to be while he and his partner viewed the encounter from their vehicle.
Compared with a boomslang, a black mamba is larger, faster, and far more aggressive when threatened. Its venom is also neurotoxic, which acts quickly, shutting down the nervous system and causing paralysis. Unlike the boomslang, the black mamba can deliver multiple rapid strikes in seconds. A chameleon simply doesn’t have the speed or defensive capability to cope with that level of attack. If a black mamba targets a chameleon, the outcome is almost always fatal for the chameleon.
Still, while the snake wasn’t a black mamba, the boomslang also presented a formidable threat.
A dual worth noting
Both chameleon and boomslang live in trees and rely heavily on stealth. The boomslang is a highly skilled hunter with excellent vision, specifically adapted to spot prey like birds and reptiles, including chameleons.
Its venom is a potent Hemotoxic venom, which means it affects blood clotting and can cause internal bleeding, but it often takes time to act.
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If the boomslang manages to strike, the chameleon will likely die eventually. However, chameleons have strong gripping feet, a powerful bite, and can inflate their bodies, hiss, and even strike defensively. If the snake misjudges or gets too close, the chameleon can bite or try to fend it off. Still, in most natural encounters, the boomslang has the advantage as a specialised tree predator.
Snake makes beeline for chameleon
The snake edged closer to the chameleon, eventually snatching it up and leaving it dangling, head-first towards the ground.
Chameleon falls from upside-down position
It seemed in that instance that the chameleon was captured, however, the lizard then fell, its fall broken by some branches beneath it.
It now hung in an awkward position and still, the prospects didn’t look so good for it.
Chameleon miraculously regains composure
However, the mighty lizard miraculously managed to regain composure and it seems the snake was suitably intimidated. It started to move away, heading back up the tree and away from the lizard. Maybe it had lost interest in the chameleon or maybe it was injured by the chameleon’s counter attacks. Nonetheless, the chameleon proved to be the last one standing! This was an unlikely ending to an epic confrontation.
The special viewing was a reminder that it’s also important to look in the trees when going out on a game drive. Trees can host all kinds of birds, animals and reptiles. In this case, a tree set the stage for a rare and memorable moment.