T he sun is rising on a backyard garden in Cape Town South Africa where beads of dew shimmer on the leaves of a honeysuckle bush A Cape dwarf chameleon watches butterflies flit from one bright orange blossom to another as they take in the sweet nectar They are unaware of the predator hidden among the leaves The chameleon is motionless its toes and long tail wrapped firmly around a slender branch A breeze rustles the leaves and the CHAMELEONS 7
chameleon shakes its body back and forth mimicking the movement of the leaves It takes the opportunity to lift one foot and step slowly toward one of the blossoms Standing still the chameleon waits but not for long for a butterfly lands on a flower near the chameleon’s face In a fraction of a second the chameleon shoots out its tongue nabs the butterfly and pulls the helpless creature into its mouth 8 LIVING WILD
