She bites him!

This is a picture I took last night of our female veiled chameleon. I could practically be a famous nature photographer!

And onto the news...

Our female chameleon BIT the male!

Holy reptile! But this is unheard of!

He has always been the dominant eater. Pushing her away from the tupperware dish where we release the crickets and worms. Stepping on her if she doesn't move fast enough. Hissing at her.

But she's smart. She figured out there's no reason to run and hide when we creak open the cage door. We're just leaving nibblies.

So, yesterday, I unlatched the door. He scurried off, in the true manner of a frightened bully. She waited on the edge of plastic container. I plopped in three meal worms, a new treat for them.

She focused on them (both eyes looking in the same direction, for a change). She opened her mouth.

Before she could shoot out her sticky-ended tongue, he strutted down the branch, knocked right into her, and gobbled up the three meal worms.

She couldn't believe it. Both her roving eyes registered disbelief. Her mouth still agape, she leaned forward and bit him on the shoulder. There was a brief nose-to-nose face-off, then he backed away.

Here's a grainy picture of him backing away while she stands her ground on the now-empty container. I was shooting through the cage. This is an example of why I'm NOT a famous nature photographer!

So, what's going on? Why is our female veiled suddenly showing chutzpah?

I think all those hours alone in a damp, dark tunnel of wet sand changed our little girl. She wasn't just down there laying twenty-three eggs. She was learning an important lesson about herself. She discovered an inner core of strength and courage. And a bunch of self-esteem.

You go, girl!