One of the 6 chameleons on WAnimals
Reptiles · Squamata · Chamaeleonidae
Jackson’s Three-horned Chameleon
Trioceros jacksonii
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary
Unlike most chameleons, which lay eggs, it is ovoviviparous and gives birth to fully formed young, an adaptation to the cold of its mountain habitat.
Weight
33 g on average
Size
25 cm – 38 cm
Lifespan
5 years
Diet
Insectivore
Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Easy
Fun facts
- Males have three horns reminiscent of Triceratops, used in territorial fights.
- It catches small insects and other invertebrates with its projectile tongue.
- It lives in cool, humid mountain forest of Kenya and northern Tanzania, at altitudes up to 3,000 metres.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
- Habitat & environment
- Cool, humid mountain forest of Kenya and northern Tanzania, at altitudes up to 2,500-3,000 metres
- Birth weight
- ~5 cm long and a few grams at birth (ovoviviparous, born live)
- Size at birth
- 5-6 cm long at birth, wholly independent and able to hunt hours later
- Sexual maturity
- 5-10 months (usual reference 9-10 months)
- Gestation / incubation
- 5-10 months of gestation (the sources vary markedly: 5-6 months by some accounts, 9-10 by others)
- Litter / clutch size
- 8 to 30 live young per litter
- Lifespan in captivity
- Documented record of up to 10 years in captivity
Sources consulted: Animals Fandom Wiki; About Animals; Animal Kingdom; Animal Diversity Web; Animalia.bio; Alchetron; Animal Spot; Wikipedia (Jackson's chameleon); Chameleon Forums
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapBest time: All year round in the montane forests of Kenya and Tanzania, between 1,500 and 2,400 m, by day; also in the introduced populations on Hawaii.
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Jackson’s Three-horned Chameleon — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Common Agama
Agama agama
Veiled Chameleon
Chamaeleo calyptratus
Narina Trogon
Apaloderma narina
Helmeted Turtle
Pelomedusa subrufa
Black Mamba
Dendroaspis polylepis
Common House Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about jackson’s three-horned chameleon.
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