The Chameleon That Refused to Flee a Venomous Boomslang

Quick Take

• A tiny lizard manages to land a counterattack on a venomous snake, and what happens next will test whether courage alone can survive venom.
• The chameleon's body starts visibly changing mid-fight, and camouflage is not the only thing at work.
• Most people see chameleons as passive prey, but this animal's hunting credentials might surprise you.
• The size difference between these two animals only becomes fully visible at a critical moment in the fight, and when it does, it reframes everything.

In the raging battle in the video shown above, a brave chameleon puts up a counterattack against a venomous boomslang snake! Repeatedly jabbed at by the snake, the shape-shifting lizard refuses to be intimidated. It faces the snake with an unwavering determination more fitting of a much larger creature! Each time the boomslang tries to lunge forward at the chameleon, it turns to face its assailant head-on. This little lizard really has a soldier’s spirit. Even after several strikes, the chameleon continues trying to face the snake and hold its position on the branch. But then a direct hit does come, as the snake manages to maneuver around the chameleon to chomp on its torso!

The snake’s lunge pushes the chameleon off balance. Hanging from a single limb, it struggles to get right-side up and in a position to defend. Showing off its strength and flexibility, the chameleon flips itself right-side up and climbs back on top of the branch it’s clinging to. Just as the chameleon rights itself, it’s directly in front of the snake’s vulnerable underbelly. Without hesitation, it clamps down hard.

The Worthiness of Venom in the Wild is All Too Real!

The snake instantly wants to escape from the unexpected fight put up by its prey. The snake manages to free itself from the chameleon’s grasp. The chameleon appears to bite the snake during the struggle, and the snake quickly pulls away. It pulls free quickly, suggesting the chameleon’s bite briefly interrupted the attack. As the camera pans out, the size difference between the snake and chameleon is more visible than ever. For this little chameleon to put up such a fight is truly inspirational!

But the chameleon begins to slow down, and the damage from the snake’s strike is clear. As the encounter continues, the chameleon’s coloration appears to shift, likely reflecting stress and physiological changes during the attack. The chameleon’s warrior spirit begins to slowly fade, and it attempts a final escape. But the effects of the venom appear to be taking hold, and the chameleon visibly weakens. Lacking strength, the chameleon cannot pull itself away. As the chameleon falls into a slump, the video comes to a somber end. But not for the snake, which is patiently waiting behind the defeated chameleon to devour its prey.