Chameleons: Interesting Aboreal Reptiles

 

Chameleons do not necessarily change their colour depending on the surroundings. They actually change their colour due to a number of different factors, including their mood, changes in light or temperature, or the humidity of their environment. They often change color to warm up or cool down. Turning darker helps warm the animal because the dark colors absorb more heat.

Different chameleons will also have different colours. For instance, a dominant, attractive male will have brighter colours, and a submissive male may be dark brown and grey. Females will change their colours based on whether they want to accept or reject a suitor.

                    

                                                          Von Hohnel's Chameleon

So how exactly do chameleons change colors? The outer layer of their skin is see-through. Beneath that are layers of special cells filled with pigment. To display a new color, the brain sends a message for these cells to get bigger or smaller. As this happens, pigments from different cells are released, and they mix with each other to create new skin tones. For instance, yellow and blue pigment may mix to make the chameleon look green.

A chameleon’s eyes can see up to 360 degrees. Chameleons have eyes in the backs of their heads and can move their eyes separately, with each eye having a field of 180 degrees. This means they can see 360 degrees if they need to.

This is useful since they can see predators coming from behind them, giving them a chance to flee on time.

Chameleons can also see ultraviolet light, which is not visible to humans.

                                                         Eye of Flap-Necked Chameleon

Chameleons come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. The smallest chameleon is the same size as your thumbnail and the largest chameleon is as long as a house cat.

The largest chameleon by length is the Malagasy giant chameleon, also known as Oustalets’s Chameleon. Some members of this species have been measured at almost two feet. The Brookesia micra chameleon, also from Madagascar is the smallest chameleon in the world. They grow to a maximum of just under 3 cm.

Chameleons have extremely powerful tongues. Excluding their tail, some chameleons’ tongues can be twice the length of their body. Their tongues consist of both muscles and bones, and can bend round to grab their pray.

The tongues are extremely quick and powerful. A chameleon's tongue can accelerate from 0 to 100km per hour in one-hundredth of a second, which is twice as fast as the fastest car. The tongue can be shot at a speed of  up to 8,500 feet per second, grabbing their prey within fractions of a second, making it impossible to get away. 

                                                   Chameleon's extended tongue
 

Chameleons have five toes on each foot. Most chameleons are highly developed to traverse trunks and branches. They have five toes on each foot that are grouped together into bigger bunches, with the toes on the hind feet reversed. These feet allow chameleons to grip on to rough or narrow branches with ease, aided by the sharp claw on each toe.

Chameleons have prehensile tails. Their tails are highly adapted to gripping on to branches and allowing them arboreal locomotion. Chameleons’ tails are able to curl several times around a branch, helping them to balance and hold on.

Some male chameleons have horns and spikes. Not just for show, though, these bodily decorations are used when a male has to protect its territory from another chameleon, and some of the spikes can help them blend into their environment.

                                                               Jackson's Chameleon

Some chameleons give birth to live young of up to 30 babies at ago while others lay eggs.

Chameleon can live up to 10 years.

No chameleon is venomous.

African Banana Slug

With a top speed of only 16.5 cm per min or 10 meters per hour, slugs are among the slowest creatures on the planet. Like all gastropod, the African Banana slug has one lung, one foot, and no spine. It is about 5 cm long but can stretch up to about 15 cm. It is variable in color and patterning, being yellow, white, orange, or gray, with or without banding, and it has gray or yellow tentacles and a yellow or orange sole.

Slugs have four tentacles. A pair of upper tentacles, which is longer, protrude from the top of their heads and are optical. Tiny black dots, or “eyes,” at the ends of the tentacles detect light and movement. A pair of smaller, lower tentacles, protruding straight out in front of their “face” are able to feel and smell. If the slug loses a tentacle to a predator or accident, the tentacle grows back.

On top of the slug, behind the head, is the saddle-shaped mantle. A respiratory opening called a pneumostome is located on the right side of the mantle and is more visible when it is open. On the mantle also are the genital opening and anus. The part of a slug behind the mantle is called the 'tail'.

                                              Parts of the slug

The bottom side of a slug, which is flat, is called the 'foot'. A slug moves by rhythmic waves of muscular contraction on the underside of its foot. It simultaneously secretes a layer of mucus that it travels on, which helps prevent damage to the foot tissues. Slugs produce two types of mucus: one is thin and watery, and the other thick and sticky. While the heavy mucus spreads from front to back, the thin mucus spreads from the center of the foot to its margins. Additionally, slugs secrete a viscous mucus that covers their entire body. Additionally, the slime facilitates slug mobility while deterring predators.

The "slime trail" a slug leaves behind have some secondary effects: other slugs coming across a slime trail can recognize the slime trail as produced by one of the same species, which is useful in finding a mate.

Slugs are hermaphrodite. They possess both male and female sex organs simultaneously. They are able to mate with themselves and self-fertilize. They however like to court and mate with other individuals. When the encounter each other, they push out and entwine their overly sized penis from their openings on the side of their head, before exchanging sperms to fertilize each other’s eggs. Occasionally, the penis gets stuck inside the partner's body. To separate themselves one or both of the slugs chew off the other's or its own penis. Once the penis has been discarded, the slugs are still able to mate using only the female parts of the reproductive system. They lay clutches of about 30 eggs under leaves and soil, and leave the clutch once laid.

                                    Slugs mating

While snails have shells to help protect their skin from drying out, slugs must stay moist to stay alive. To avoid dehydration, they secrete a layer of mucus, or slime, which covers their bodies. This is why most slugs are active just after a rain because of the moist ground or during nighttime. In dry conditions, slugs insulate themselves in dirt and leaves until their environment becomes moist again.

They eat detritus (dead organic matter), including fallen leaves and plants, animal feces, moss, and mushroom spores. They also feed on a wide dead organic matter and a variety of vegetables, including flowers, cabbages and strawberries.

The slugs are essentially harmless to humans, but can be serious pests of agriculture and horticulture. They can destroy foliage faster than plants can grow, thus killing even fairly large plants. They also feed on fruits and vegetables prior to harvest, making holes in the crop.

Slug control methods useful in small gardens include beer traps, crushed eggshells and coffee grounds. Salt kills slugs by causing water to leave the body through osmosis but this is not used for agricultural control as soil salinity is detrimental to crops.

In few rare cases, humans have developed rat lungworm induced meningitis from eating raw slugs. Slugs and snails are the primary intermediate hosts of the Angiostrongylus cantonensis- induced meningitis, where the larvae develop until they are infectious. Live slugs that are accidentally eaten with improperly cleaned vegetables (such as cabbages and kales), or improperly cooked slugs, can act as a vector for a parasitic infection in humans.

Nairobi Fly, Kenya Fly, Narrow Bee Fly

It is neither a fly nor a bee but a rove beetle, distinguished by its short wing covers. This beetle does not bite or sting. It is however well known, and feared, for the burns or skin irritation that it causes on human skin.

 

The beetle has a corrosive ‘chemical’ known as pederin, which is contained in its haemolymph, the invertebrate equivalent of blood. Pederin is released when a beetle is unintentionally brushed against or crushed against flesh, leading to chemical burns on the skin. The production of pederin relies on the activities of a symbiotic bacteria that lives within the beetle.

Because of these burns, the Nairobi fly is sometimes referred to as a "dragon bug” or “acid-bug."

Adult beetles are predominantly black and red in colour, and measure about 1 cm in length. Their head, lower abdomen, and wing-covers are black, with the thorax and upper abdomen being red – enough warning.

The beetles live in moist habitats. Heavy rains provide the conditions for the Nairobi fly to thrive. The beetle lives in bushes surrounding houses, in which it hides during the day but at night it emerges attracted by fluorescent and incandescent lights and as a result, inadvertently come into contact with humans.

Severity of the skin irritation (dermatitis) depends on the affected individual, the dose of pederin and duration of contact. Mild cases result in a slight redness of the skin. Moderate cases will start itching which later develop blisters. More severe cases could happen if the toxin is more widespread over the body or the area becomes secondarily infected. Treatment involves washing the irritated area with cool soapy water.

Affected individuals may inadvertently transfer pederin to other areas of the body, such as the genitals, the face or eye. If the eye is affected, because of hand rubbing, it can cause conjunctivitis – also known as “Nairobi eye”.

 

The Nairobi fly should be blown or gently brushed off your skin if it does land there. It should not be squashed or crushed. Should the beetle fluids get into touch with your skin, wash the afflicted area with soap and water.

 

Despite its name, Nairobi fly is not only found in East Africa. It is found in most of tropical regions.

 

Life Lessons from Zebras

Zebras. Muscular, horse-like animals with pointed ears, sturdy legs and a beautiful coat of dense, black and white hair forming dazzling stripes. One of the most recognized and photographed animal. A compassionate social grazer that is found in most parts of eastern and southern Africa.

From their way of life, we can learn some lessons:

1. Pave the Way for Others. 

Zebras survive on a diet of rough vegetation with relatively low nutritional value, which their hindgut fermentation process helps them to digest. Because they cut back old growth and consume lower quality plant matter, they increase the overall quality of vegetation in areas where they graze.

Zebras play a critical role for other herbivores by clearing the way for growth of tender new leaves and grasses. Other herbivores, including wildebeests and gazelles, follow behind the zebras grazing on short grass and the new shoots.

Always endeavor to clear the way for those behind you. Remove the obstacles. Promote growth. Be the solution, not the problem. Create and share opportunities. 

2. Always be Compassionate

Inherently social animals, zebras live in herds made of multiple harems, small families made up of one stallion, multiple mares, and their young. They groom one another, using their teeth to pull loose hairs off each other and provide a gentle back scratch. Zebras are also very welcoming of other herbivores, too; wildebeest often follow along with zebra herds, sharing resources and protection. 

Be social. Be compassionate. Help others, even those not related to you and those we assume cannot be of any help to us.

3. Be Strategic

With a plant-based diet, zebras are prey to nearly every hunter. Lions, hyenas and crocodiles hunt these friendly creatures. Because they are constantly on the defensive, zebras sleep standing up and only do so when they are in groups that can warn them of impending danger. If they sense a predator, zebras will bark or whinny loudly and use the angle of their ears to communicate with other herd members. When forced to flee, zebras run in a zig-zag pattern to avoid getting caught by a predator and will defend themselves with a powerful kick as a last resort.

Always be strategic. Have plans. Rally for support.

4. Remain a Mystery 

Are zebras white with black stripes or black with white stripes? Why do they have the stripes? To date, no one seems to have the conclusive answer! Despite their beauty, Zebras still remains somehow a mystery to humans. They have never ‘exposed’ the secret of their stripes.

Despite several attempts to domesticate Zebras, man has never succeeded. Zebras are very unpredictable.

Try to minimize the amount of information you disclose about yourself. Maintain some air of mystery. Focus on taking in your surroundings, listening to what others say and fading into the background a bit. 

Do not be too obvious. Maintain some element of unpredictability 

5. Always Be on the Look Out

Zebras are always vigilant. Always alert for signs of lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs and other predators.  Despite being in a herd, they are never too comfortable with the current situation. They know they can be attacked any time.

Never be too comfortable with the current situation or circumstance. You never know what ‘they’ are planning behind your back. Be on the lookout. Be ready to venture out, to try other area, to form other alliances, to explore other territories.

6. Present Yourself Appropriately

Because of their stripes zebras are one of the most familiar and recognized animals to people. They are one of the most photogenic animals in the Africa plains, probably due to their unique coats and their tendency to pose to the cameras.  Being so easily spotted of course comes with other hazards.  However, zebras seem to know the beauty of their dazzling stripes and they are proud to display them. They there are absolutely a delight to photograph and make for some of the most fun and delightful captures. 

Do not fear to show your beauty. Both the inner and outer beauty matters. Be well groomed and presentable.

7. Defend Your Vision and Sanity 

Zebras are very courageous animals and are not afraid to confront predators. Zebras have powerful kicks which can cause serious injury to a predator such as a lion, hyena or African wild dog.

Be ready to defend your cause, your ideas, your vision and your peace of mind. When need be, stand on your ground.

8. Complement Each Other

Zebras and wildebeest have developed a great relationship that is beneficial to each other. From feeding, the zebra feeds on the top parts of the grass or the tall grasses. This allows the wildebeest to easily access their preferred short grass.

The zebras are good at protecting and navigating while the wildebeest have the ability to find the water. A good sense of hearing with swarm intelligence of wildebeest and better eyesight with a better memory of zebra helps them to stay out of any danger during the migration.

We should complement each other not compete with each other. We should be collaborators not aggravators. 

Life Lessons from Giraffe

Giraffe. One of the most iconic species of Africa. As the tallest mammal on Earth, these creatures are both wonderful and weird with their long legs, long necks, long tongues, large eyes, long eyelashes, striking coat patterns, ambling gait and calm demeanour. Their legs alone are taller than most adult humans.

Maasai Giraffes in Nairobi Park

These gentle giants of nature, towering high above everyone else in the jungle and literally observe the world from high above, can actually inspire us a lot about happiness and confidence.

Always Stand Tall

Giraffes use their physical characteristics to convey a commanding presence. You can never ignore their presence. You always notice their existence. 

We are all talented differently. Each one of us has a strength. We should aim to excel and rise through our talents, passions and abilities. Concentrate more on your strengths rather than gaining unwarranted assurance from others' flaws.

Be noticeable. Let your presence always be felt. 

Nubian(Rothschild's) Giraffe standing tall in Ruma Park

Stay Humble

Although the giraffes browse on trees high above the ground, they have to lower their head from time to time to feed from the ground.

Always remember your roots. Ensure you relate well with the ‘ground’.

Never Confuse Position with Strength

They are definitely tall and large, but giraffes recognize that their strength has limitations. 

Often, when you are doing better than others, you tend to think of yourself as invincible, and that is where it all goes wrong. 

No Matter How High You Rise, Do Not Get Swayed Away by Power.

Celebrate Your Spots

The giraffes’ spots are unique to each individual. No two giraffes have the exact pattern. 

Even though we may have spots (weaknesses, misgivings, prejudices…) on us that we are aware of, let us learn to embrace them and keep moving forward.

Your Spots Are What Make You Unique. 

Nubian Giraffe in Lake Nakuru Park

Take a Higher View

Just like giraffes have the ability to view things from above, we need to take a higher level of thinking to gain perspective.

Have a Higher Vision.

Always Remain Friendly

Giraffes have a high sense of community. Their leaders are not arrogant. They consider themselves first as a member of the herd and then as the head.

They move together and, when necessary, use their combined might.

Be Friendly. Support Each Other.

A tower of Nubian Giraffes in Ruma Park 

Mau Mau's Baobab Tree Hide Out, Kitchen and Meat Store

In the heart of Meru National Park, there is a twin baobab tree that served as a hide out, kitchen and meat store for the Mau Mau in the 1950s. This tree holds some of the secrets about Field Marshal Musa Mwariama, the highest-ranking Mau Mau leader who survived the war without being killed or captured by the colonialists. Mwariama and his troop would slaughter animals and hang all the meat inside the hollow baobab tree. They had hammered wooden pegs inside the hollowed trunk for hanging the meat to avoid vultures from following and betraying Mau Mau to the colonial forces.

                  The 500 years old Baobab Tree

Born M'Kirigua M'Muchiri in 1928 at Athinga, Muthara in Tigania East, Mwariama whose childhood name was Baringo, was commander of hundreds of Mau Mau fighters in Mt Kenya and Nyambene Hills bases. He rose from the rank of General to Field Marshal after the capture and killing of Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi. He had a towering height with constantly searching glances that made him hypnotising and intimidating. 

                Mwariama's hypnotising look

The mere mention of Mwariama's name sent shivers down the backs of the invaders from the British Isles. Because of him, they had to carry their guns at all times, for no one knew the moment and time when Musa Mwariama would suddenly appear from nowhere like a ghost, and exact punishment to the colonialists for their crimes against the natives.

When the colonial soldiers discovered the hide out, there was a fierce battle. Mwariama and his team had to flee toward Tana River which is not so far from the tree. To save his life, Mwariama had to jump into the deep raging river. Once in the river, he was lucky to find a drifting log which he held onto and drifted to the other side of the river. When the 'wabeberu' reached at the bank of the river and saw Mwariama running on the other side of the river, they were amazed at how a human could have jumped across a very wide river.

Entrance to the Hollow Baobab Tree

Mwariama and his troop avoided cooked food to enhance their natural senses. The diet without cooked food also increased the sense of smell and also reduced body odour, making it harder for trackers to pick up the fighter’s scent. 

Mwariama’s death in 1989 was ironical. For more than 10 years, he had survived colonial bullets, deadly traps, wild animals, very tough terrain and weather but died from envenomation after he sucked snake venom out of his friend’s leg. It is claimed the snake’s venom entered his blood stream through cavities in his teeth. The fried survived.  The ultimate sacrifice. A true patriot who died saving a life just like he spent a decade fighting for freedom. 

      The gallant fighter

After Kenya gained independent in 1963, Mwariama and his troop refused to leave the forest fearing for his safely. Emissaries had to be sent to his hideout to assure him Kenya was finally ‘free’. Unfortunately, it is a black man, who was more ruthless and crueller than the white man, who finally put Mwariama in chains and stole his dignity as Mwariama was charged with treason and thrown in prison for 6 months. While the others were given land and government positions in Nairobi, Mwariama was handed a pitiful job as assistant chief, whereby he later resigned.

David Njagi’s book ‘The Last Mau Mau Field Marshals’ has detailed stories about Mwariama and other Mau Mau fighters. 

A Mole that Holds the Secrets of Cancer, Alzheimer and Pain

Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber), aptly nicknamed sand puppy, is an obnoxious looking underground dwelling rodent that look like a slack toothed sausage. Though it has a wrinkly hairless body, tiny eyes and elongated pair of front teeth, this mammal may be holding the secrets of how to overcome or avoid cancer, how to avoid aging, feeling pain and even living in the extrasolar planets. Of late, the naked mole rat has caused serious row among scientists over what might be the naked mole rat most unusual feature, outstanding resistance to cancer. 

These burrowing rodents, native to Kenya and horn of Africa, have for many years fascinated medical researchers in many ways. They have surprisingly long lifespans of up to 37 years and have antiaging qualities. They hold the record of the longest living rodents. The reason for their longevity is thought to be related to their ability to substantially reduce their metabolism in response to adverse conditions, and so prevent aging-induced damage from oxidative stress.

They are highly resistant to pain. They do not feel pain when exposed to acid or capsaicin (the active chemical in chilli). They survive for lengthy periods with very limited oxygen level. They survive for at least 5 hours in air that contains only 5% oxygen (man can survive for about 5 - 45 minutes). 

The naked mole-rat does not regulate its body temperature in typical mammalian fashion. Their body temperature changes according to the external temperature, rather than carrying out thermoregulation like other mammals. They are thermos-conformers rather than thermos-regulators.

They are also one of the only mammals known to live in highly organised, multigenerational colonies, similar to ants and bees. Though they live in colonies made up of 100 individuals (sometimes they can grow to a 300- strong group), there is only a single female (queen) who breeds and mates with one or two, breeding males. The rest of the colony, of both sexes, have their reproduction suppressed and never ever breed, they are sterile. The small ones tend to act as workers and carry out colony maintenance activities. The larger moles seem to adopt a more defensive role, acting as solders keeping predators, such as snakes, at bay.

They live in complex underground tunnels which have great deal of branching and interconnections, resulting to a colony's total tunnel length of up to 4 kilometers. Tunnels connect nest chambers, toilet areas and food sources. Burrowing is the only way these animals find food, because they do not venture above ground. They are well adapted to their underground existence. They have small eyes, short thin legs. Nevertheless, they are highly proficient at moving underground and can move backward as fast as they can move forward.

Naked mole-rats have a high resistance to tumours. Scientists claim the moles have a potential mechanism that averts cancer, an ‘over-crowding’ gene, p16, which prevents cell division once individual cells come into contact. Scientists have also claimed that the reason naked mole-rats do not get cancer be attributed to an extremely high-molecular natural sugary substance, which is over ‘five times large’ than that in cancer-prone humans and cancer-susceptible laboratory animals. There also claims that the naked mole rats are so good at avoiding cancer because of their way of life. 

In Kenya, the naked mole-rats are found in Meru National Park, Tsavo East National Park and Kibwezi area.