Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Those of you that are aware of populations of wild Jackson's chams in coastal CA areas, how healthy are the populations? Do you see fluctuations, or large/small average sizes? I have observed several individuals, and they tend to be normal to large sized and healthy.

There's chameleons in California? What part exactely? You've observed this? Are they like the captive iguanas that have escaped in Florida and flourish down there. What I'm saying is they are not natural. There are Jackson's in Hawaii but they are escapes (someone's pet).

Definitely xantholopus, in all likelyhood from original Hawaiian stock. >>Those of you that are aware of populations of wild Jackson's chams in coastal CA areas, how healthy are the populations? Do you see fluctuations, or large/small average sizes? I have observed several individuals, and they tend to be normal to large sized and healthy.
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

what I was saying, looks to be of Hawaiian stock. From what I remember of the wild Hawaiian stock, they seem to tolerate a certain level of parasites fairly well, I don't seem why the California populations wouldn't do equally well.
BTW, if you know where these populations are, please do NOT post location. Not yet anyways. I'm sure if CA Dept Fish and Game found them, they would try to eliminate them.
Maybe if they're given enough time, they might establish themselves and we might have an alternate source of WC Jax for future breeding projects.
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

Besides, they're darned hard to find. I know of at least 3 populations and have heard of 2 others. The four I have found were all xantholopus, although I understand there may be some direct African blood in one population. Nice looking lizards.

There is a nice pocket of Jackson's along the Santa Barbara coast. I have personally seen and caught a few. After talking with a few people who have lived in the area since the early 70's there have been Jackson's have been there since the 80's. The head scratcher about it is that if they have been there for 20 plus years why hasn't the population exploded? The only answer I can provide to that question is that I have only caught females and that there is a lack of males. The people that I have talked to that live in that particular area have only seen 3 males but for all they know, or I, it could have been the same male. There is also a population of Veilds in Montecito although I cannot confirm that but I am trying to.
-Matt

They must have regular due or other forms of condensation such as fog to drink,and this is usually only available consistantly in regions very near the coast. Also, they need insects to eat in the winter, and cannot tolerate hard freezes.
Scrub jays and mockingbirds will predate on the young, and cats will readily kill all sizes. Males are very territorial, and will space themselves out far enough that they cannot see each other; this may be why Santa Barbara has fewer males.

Why are there no populations of chameleons in south florida? I know that iguanas are everywhere and I have seen brown basalisks(and caught one for a pet while I was down there) along the canals, I would think that it would be a great place for a population to spring up, there are warm temps year around, plenty of bugs, and lots of dense shrubbery and trees, and lots of moisture. I would think that there would be plenty of potential escapees and ones that are let go. Just thought that it would make sence. Whats everyone's opinion on this?

of Jacksons in FL in the past, but I'm not sure what their status is today. Florida is slightly less conducive to mountain chameleons because of its heat. Other species may fare better there.