The Cape dwarf chameleon grows to over 15 cm (5.9 in) in length, including the tail, with males and females reaching similar adult sizes.

They are ovoviviparous, but examination in controlled captivity has shown the very soft egg-like membrane around the young is discarded immediately on birth.

The young resemble miniature versions of the adults, with muted colours, and typically reach no more than 2 cm in length at birth.

Like most chameleons, the tail is prehensile, and the feet are well evolved to grasping twigs, with minute claws on the end that improve grip.

Hand size has a direct correlation with grip strength on both broad and narrow dowels, rod-like structures, in both populations.

[6] In the past, most South African dwarf chameleons were considered a subspecies of the Cape species[7] This is now known to be wrong, however; B. pumilum does not appear to have any particularly close living relatives.

When fighting contests occur, the outcome is influenced by the height of the ornamental casque, the relative size of the pink patch in the center of the flank, and previous experience.

Similarly with the pink patch in the center of the flank, this is an honest signal showing that the chameleon has a healthy diet correlating to the strength of the individual.

Bradypodion pumilum is a sit-and-wait forager which means they will rarely move and wait for prey to cross their paths, only then striking out.

A large number of lizards are expected to be affected by climate change in the near future, especially in Southern Africa where this species is found.

If temperatures rise by 1-3 degrees Celsius, then it is expected that Cape dwarf chameleon running speed will increase as well.

[12] This species inhabits a range of different habitats and vegetation types, from fynbos and renosterveld, to indigenous Afrotemperate forest and wetlands.

It is more usually found in areas such as river valleys, which are sheltered to some degree from the region's seasonal fires, and where more dense vegetation has developed.

Natural and sexual selection in open and closed habitats have different intensities which directly affects the morphological variation found within the species.

The historical habitat of Bradypodion pumilum has recently become severely fragmented due to intense urbanization and agricultural transformation.

This trend is continuing with approximately 6.5 square kilometers of undeveloped land becoming lost to transformation in the Cape Town municipal area per year.

Additional losses are expected to occur because of rapid climatic changes near Cape Town which is where the species is primarily distributed.

In urban areas, Cape dwarf chameleons are limited to planted vegetation, usually nonindigenous species, and patches of highly disturbed habitat.

Populations are often found living in the overgrowth of exotic vegetation on road verges, abandoned urban ground, riverine thickets, or residential areas.

Terrains with no suitable habitat include lawns, paved areas, brickwork, or higher trees with trunks too wide for chameleons to climb.

More importantly, the growing density of cats kept in suburban areas causes an unnaturally high ratio of predators to prey, leading to the collapse of populations of chameleons and many other species.

During the night, the species tends to move higher, to the tips of branches (nocturnal predators are primarily terrestrial) and assume a white colour when they sleep.

During the day they spend more time lower down in denser vegetation (daytime predators include several species of birds).

Some common characters used to define Bradypodion species is casque development, scale shape and size in crests, lateral tubercles, and others.