Chameleons are known for their ability to change colours and blend in, but these two had no trouble spotting each other’s ambitions in a fierce battle for a female mate. Footage of the brief contest was captured on a property near the Amber Mountain National Park on the northern edge of Madagascar. It shows the males sizing each other up before one is forced to retreat following a violent battle for the attention of a female chameleon that isn’t seen in the video. The more aggressive of the two (right) chases his rival out of the tree and along a concrete wall . One of the chameleons twists in pain as the aggressor takes a huge bite out of him during their clash . The one-minute clip begins with the video maker, who speaks French, one of the island’s two official languages, offering play-by-play commentary, declaring it ‘bataille du chameleons’, or battle of the chameleons. Shortly after he questions which one will make the first move, the more aggressive of the two reptiles launches himself at his foe. The chameleons snap at each other while struggling to keep their footing in the tree. But the aggressor soon gains the upper hand and takes a huge bite out of his rival, who squirms in pain. The video maker, who speaks French, declared it ‘bataille du chameleons’, or battle of the chameleons . The chameleons sized each other up and snapped at each other before one of them gained the upper hand . The video ends as the chameleons clamber onto a tree branch and become obscured by leaves . The video maker, who has moved into a better position to record the fight, gasps in horror as the defeated chameleon struggles to escape. It wriggles free and then crawls across a concrete wall in a desperate bid to escape as the other chameleon slowly gives chase. The video ends as the chameleons clamber onto a tree branch and become obscured by leaves.
Brief clash occurred near Amber Mountain National Park in Madagascar.
Footage shows the pair sizing each other up before one strikes.
The more aggressive of the two takes a huge bite out of his foe.
Defeated chameleon wriggles free and then tries to escape along a wall.