Johnny Jackson grew up in Haiku and was given to my niece and nephews along with a female Crystal Jackson. Soon, they had 13 baby Jacksonites, with tiny budding horns! Dad is kept in a separate cage from the babies since he practices population control post birth.
Jackson Chameleons are native to Eastern Africa and legally imported to Hawaii in the '70's. When a shipment arrived dehydrated and weak, the pet shop owner put them in her yard until they gained their strength, thinking she would capture them later for the shop. We know the rest of that story! They are pervasive on all Hawaiian islands except Molokai, Niihau and Kaho'olawe. On Maui they are prevalent in the Haiku area.
These chameleons are slow moving creatures, so for defense purposes, they can change shades of the same color. They turn bright colors to look bad tasting or poisonous, or pale to look dead.
Johnny is very entertaining to hold and observe. His eyes are the wildest! They are 3 dimensional balls with psychedelic stripes, each eye busy, rolling and moving separate of the other. The kids love holding him and screaming as his pinching toes grasp as he slowly, tortuously slithers up their arm! He often goes for the neck, perhaps for protection of someplace to tuck into, or to hide in girls long hair. But, it is creepy and vulnerable, one just doesn't know if he is related to a vampire!
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