Tiny Newborn Chameleon Once Enclosed In Clear Membrane Wiggles Out To Take First Breath

Apr 22, 2020 by apost team

Chameleons are fascinating creatures that have the ability to blend into their surroundings, making them difficult to spot. In this incredible video from South Africa, a newborn Transvaal dwarf chameleon can be seen breaking out of its clear membrane encasing and taking it's very first breath.

What's so interesting is that before it breaks free, it's enclosed in such a way that its shape resembles a stone or random object, not a chameleon at all! But once it comes out of its safe membrane and into the world, the chameleon's familiar lizard-like body takes form. 

The video begins with a close up of someone's hand, with what appears to be a gray-brown stone at first glance. The object is encased in a very shiny coating, as if it's been polished. The object is tiny –– it's even smaller than the fingertips of the person who's holding it. It has to be less than one inch on either of its sides.

Soon enough, it starts to move ever so slightly –– the apparent rock seems to be morphing in shape! All of a sudden, the shiny coating on the object gives way and the form lengthens, giving way to a lizard-shaped animal. At this point it's apparent the shininess on the exterior was a clear membrane coating that was housing the animal.

The chameleon then stands still for the rest of the video, obviously taking in its first breath and acclimating to its surroundings. Can you imagine what it must feel like to break free from one's protective coating and literally come into the world for the first time? What an experience!

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Uploaded by someone in South Africa, the person behind the recording explained that the animal was a Transvaal dwarf chameleon. While it's coloring remained the gray-brown shade that it was when it resembled a rock in the beginning, as the animal gets older, it will take on more vivid colorings from its surroundings.

Chameleons are known as good adaptors to their environment, with their color-changing ability a feature of their survival skills. The Transvaal dwarf chameleon is known for their vivid coloring later in life, particularly for exhibiting shades of red and orange. 

And while this little guy seems so placid having just arrived in the world, when they're older, Transvaal dwarf chameleons are known to be aggressive and very territorial towards each other. It's funny to think how different animals can become once they've matured, whereas when they're babies they all seem so cute and harmless.

What a special moment to have captured this chameleon's first breath in the world on video. If only we could also see it change its colors once it gets a little older. 

What did you think of this tiny chameleon's shape-shifting entry into the world? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this on to your family and friends!