In the intense heat of the coastal area, moisture evaporates from
the Red Sea and is trapped by the mountain range running from Ta'izz
in the South through Dhamar and San'a. The result is a hot and humid
coastal plain with little or no rain.
As the moisture
climbs the mountains in the form of clouds the temperature drops.
This leads to heavy rainfall on the Western slopes. This rain and
the cooler temperature support lush vegetation and a large insect
population. It is on these humid fertile areas that the Veiled Chameleon
thrives.
Most of the rain
is deposited before reaching the top of the mountain region, making
the plateau much drier and less humid. Also the temperatures are
cooler with frost sometimes occurring in the winter months.
In Western Yemen the three main areas Veiled Chameleons can be found
are:
i)
Coastal Plains
The
narrow coastal plains of Western Yemen, bordering the Red Sea are
primarily hot with little or no rainfall (less than 50mm annually),
and are prone to sandstorms. Temperatures often exceed 100 F (38
C) with high humidity.
In these semi-desert conditions Calyptratus can be found next to
the main watercourses (Waddi's) of which there are many. Although
many of the Waddi's dry out during the hotter months the damp soil
along the edges makes the
Picture above is a typical waddi in Western
Yemen
growth
of vegetation still possible. The vegetation in turn supports a
viable insect population that sustains Calyptratus. Often the Coastal
Plains can go several years without rainfall. In these areas, Calyptratus
have been seen to consume vegetation regularly. This unusual trait
in chameleons is thought to provide extra fluids for the animal
in this arid environment.
Historical
temperatures at Al Hudaydah are shown below to illustrate the typical
temperatures experienced in this region.
Al
Hudaydah
| Average
Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 80 |
81 |
83 |
86 |
91 |
93 |
94 |
93 |
92 |
89 |
84 |
81 |
| Average
High Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 82 |
83 |
86 |
89 |
93 |
95 |
95 |
95 |
94 |
91 |
86 |
83 |
| Average
Low Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 78 |
78 |
80 |
83 |
88 |
90 |
92 |
90 |
90 |
87 |
81 |
78 |
| Highest
Recorded Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 90 |
90 |
91 |
102 |
102 |
104 |
101 |
102 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
90 |
| Lowest
Recorded Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May. |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 50 |
43 |
50 |
48 |
56 |
57 |
66 |
65 |
60 |
57 |
49 |
28 |
ii)
Western Slopes
On
the Western and Southern slopes of the vast mountain range of the
southern Arabian Peninsula Calyptratus thrives. Because of the favourable
conditions, not too hot, humid and abundant rain fall, (often exceeding
1000mm annually) much of this area has been cultivated with grains,
fruit trees and vegetables. This in turn hosts a large insect population
and is home to the fabled locust plagues. In this region Calyptratus
is abundant.
Most of the Chameleons found in the pet trade in the UK and USA
originate from this area
Ta'izz
is a typical town on the Western Slopes. Its historical temperatures
give an insight into suitable conditions in which to keep Calyptratus.
Ta'izz
| Average
Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 63 |
67 |
72 |
76 |
78 |
80 |
80 |
78 |
76 |
76 |
71 |
67 |
| Average
High Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 74 |
81 |
83 |
89 |
87 |
91 |
90 |
87 |
83 |
83 |
80 |
73 |
| Average
Low Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 52 |
53 |
61 |
62 |
69 |
68 |
70 |
68 |
69 |
68 |
62 |
61 |
| Highest
Recorded Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 81 |
87 |
89 |
94 |
95 |
97 |
102 |
93 |
90 |
90 |
84 |
82 |
| Lowest
Recorded Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 44 |
44 |
56 |
57 |
63 |
63 |
63 |
61 |
62 |
62 |
57 |
57 |
iii)
Highland Plateau
The
Highland Plateau is cool and
relatively dry (200-400mm rain annually) with less humidity than
the previous two regions..
In the upper highlands, night-time temperatures can drop to below
freezing. On these cold nights Calyptratus has been seen to overnight
in fissures in the ground and the centre of thick bushes.
San'a
is a typical highland town where Calyptratus can be found.
San'a
| Average
Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 62 |
65 |
68 |
69 |
72 |
75 |
76 |
74 |
73 |
66 |
62 |
60 |
| Average
High Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 72 |
74 |
76 |
76 |
80 |
83 |
83 |
81 |
80 |
75 |
72 |
71 |
| Average
Low Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 51 |
55 |
60 |
61 |
65 |
67 |
68 |
67 |
65 |
56 |
51 |
50 |
| Highest
Recorded Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 84 |
84 |
88 |
89 |
91 |
90 |
91 |
91 |
91 |
93 |
85 |
84 |
| Lowest
Recorded Temperature (°F) |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 34 |
37 |
46 |
48 |
45 |
52 |
48 |
45 |
48 |
39 |
34 |
32 |
