What Is A Pygmy Chameleon?

There are more than 200 different types of chameleons, which all display more or less the same characteristics. But each have more specific traits that sets them apart from others in their class. The Pygmy chameleon is one of those. Pygmy chameleons are a rarer, smaller chameleon type that can be found in Madagascar and Zimbabwe However, they have also become one of the most common chameleon types kept as pets by enthusiasts and breeders.

What is a Pygmy chameleon, and what makes them special?

The term Pygmy chameleon generally refers to one chameleon type: Rhampholeon brevicaudatus. Rarely, the term is also used to refer to a second chameleon type that was only discovered in 1992: the Rhampholeon chapmanorum.

Here’s a brief guide to Pygmy chameleons, including their size, breeding habits, and what you should know if you intend to keep one.

About the Pygmy Chameleon

The Pygmy lizard refers to a smaller, relatively rare chameleon called the Rhampholeon brevicaudatus. This is a smaller type of chameleon, who usually only grows to the length of a few inches at most. However, by comparison, the Cape Dwarf chameleon is even smaller than this.

Pygmy chameleons are native to Madagascar. But they can also be found naturally in Zimbabwe and some other expanding stretches of Africa.

However, they’re commonly kept as pets internationally, where conditions in their tank can be adapted to suit their natural environment.

About the Second Pygmy Lizard

There’s another chameleon type that you might find referred to as the Pygmy chameleon.

There’s also another subspecies that’s sometimes called the Pygmy chameleon: (the Rhampholeon chapmanorum). This subspecies was first described by scientists in 1992, and its appearance in the wild was only noticed again in the 2010s.

However, if you don’t see the scientific name explicitly stated, you can generally assume that the reference means the first type of Pygmy chameleon.

Are Pygmy and Dwarf Chameleons the Same Thing?

Even though it might sound like it the first time you hear the name. Pygmy and Dwarf chameleons aren’t the same subspecies or type. Pygmy chameleons are found in Madagascar and Zimbabwe. While the Dwarf chameleon is a much smaller type of chameleon native to Cape Town, South Africa.

Is It Legal to Keep a Pygmy Chameleon?

In most cases and jurisdictions, the answer is yes.

However, some areas might require you to have a permit before owning, selling, or trading specific chameleon types.

If you’re new to chameleon ownership, then you might want to start by making sure what the laws for your area state. If you aren’t sure, it’s always legally safer to find out first!

What’s Different About the Pygmy Lizard?

Pygmy chameleons have certain characteristics that sets them apart from other chameleon types, including their size.

The Pygmy chameleon is one of the smallest types, however, not the smallest type of chameleon.

They’re also a special type of chameleon due to their lack of a curly tail. Which most chameleons use to help them grip things. Since the Pygmy chameleon is found on the ground level for most of their lives. There isn’t much they need to grip, and don’t have the same tails most other types do.

What Else Do People Call the Pygmy Chameleon?

Pygmy chameleons are further divided into subtypes, which includes the Bearded and Spectral Pygmy chameleons: this depends on their shade, and where they are predominantly found.

Sometimes they’re easy to confuse with the Cape Dwarf chameleon. However, they aren’t the same species – and the Cape chameleon is found in Southern Africa and surrounding areas. Plus measures even smaller than Pygmy chameleons.

What Makes a Pygmy Chameleon Enclosure Different?

Pygmy chameleons have the same habits and behaviors as most other types of chameleons, except for one distinct difference from most. That’s the fact that these chameleons are ground-dwellers, and spend most of their lives on the ground floor.

This means that Pygmy chameleons don’t have the curly, circular tail that most other chameleon types need for gripping and holding things Instead, you’ll notice that this chameleon type has a stub-like tail instead.

Combined with their size, it makes Pygmy chameleons relatively easy to spot.

How Large is the Pygmy Chameleon?

Pygmy chameleons can measure between 3 to 5 inches in size as adults, though they are much smaller (almost microscopic) as juvenile chameleons or hatchlings. If you’re new to being a chameleon owner, then they might be tough to handle. It’s recommended that you first handle them with an extension, such as a twig or skewer stick.

For most chameleon types including the Pygmy chameleon, you can generally assume that the males are slightly larger than the females. Usually this difference is small, but a trained eye can spot which is which when males and females are next to one another!

What’s the Average Lifespan for the Pygmy Chameleon?

The average lifespan for Pygmy chameleons can be 2 to 5 years on average, although this is only a general measurement. Individual cases are measured on their own. Some resources give a different answer (1 to 3), and this is technically still correct.

While this serves as a general guideline, there are many factors that can influence how old your Pygmy chameleon might become. Including their care and genetics.

Sometimes, their sex might also make a difference to how long their overall lifespan.

Pygmy chameleons live longer in captivity than they might in the wild. This is due to the fact that they don’t have to find food in captivity, or deal with risks like predators or competitors. At least they don’t if you’re doing the right things as a chameleon owner!

Conclusion: More About Pygmy Chameleons

Pygmy chameleons are one of the less common chameleon types, though they’re increasingly common as pets due to their calm temperament and their small size. Lucky for chameleon owners, the good news is that Pygmy chameleons are relatively easy to take care of.

Do you need more information about chameleon care?

Find everything you need to know about chameleons and reptile care on our website, including more information about their diet and ideal reptarium.