The Namaqua chameleon (Chamaeleo namaquensis) is a ground-living lizard found in the western desert regions of Namibia, South Africa and southern Angola.

[2] Chamaeleo namaquensis is one of the largest chameleon species in southern Africa, and reaches up to 25 cm in length.

It has large dorsal spines and a prominent, pointed casque on the back of its head and lacks the neck flap of other Chamaeleo species.

[4] Like many chameleons, this species has nasal salt glands which excretes excess minerals such as sodium chloride and potassium.

[3] This chameleon species occurs naturally throughout the arid western part of southern Africa, and is particularly common in the Namib Desert.

Within its natural range, it inhabits arid and semi-arid areas, such as Karoo shrubland, sandy desert and gravel plains, even foraging in intertidal zones.

[3][1] Unlike the arboreal chameleons of the genus Chamaeleo, its tail is not prehensile, but otherwise it still hunts in the same way, slowly stalking its prey and catching it with its long tongue.

Namaqua chameleons primarily feed on insects, eating mostly tenebrionid beetles and to a lesser extent oedipodine grasshoppers.

They mostly hunt their prey in sandy dunes and rocky areas,[5] but some coastal populations also forage for marine arthropods in intertidal zones, making it the only chameleon species to do so.

[3] When hunting potentially dangerous prey, individuals quickly learn to disable its weapons first (biting the heads of snakes and lizards, the fangs of spiders, the stingers of scorpions and hymenopterans, etc) before finally dispatching and consuming it.

This suggests that the species may actually be an omnivorous chameleon, which is further supported by the presence of potassium in the excretions of the nasal glands as is the case with herbivorous lizards.

This is a reflection of food in the Namib Desert being highly abundant and constantly available; a condition that is difficult to replicate in captivity.

In an experiment, dyed water placed on the side of its body visibly moved to its back and towards the head and tail.

It appears that this is because sufficient water is readily available through regular fogs, food, and the cloaca reabsorbing moisture from urine, the latter which is aided by the salt glands removing excess minerals.

[5][3] Similar to other chameleon species in areas near human habitation, it falls victim to introduced predators such as domestic cats, dogs and foxes.

It will also defend itself by quickly turning black, inflating the body and gular pouch, hissing, and gaping the bright yellow mouth in an attempt to startle the threat to buy enough time to flee.

If cornered, it will charge and try to bite the attacker with its powerful jaws, and if successful, violently rips and tears at the flesh without letting go.

[3]Breeding can occur at any point in the year, after which eggs spend a gestation period of 35-45 days inside the mother.

[3] Due to the especially advanced state of embryos and eggs by the time they are laid, it has been suggested that this species is in the process of evolving ovoviviparity.