These incredible images captured by Mark and Jaren Fernley show the split second a chameleon launches its impossibly long tongue to snatch an unsuspecting grasshopper near Diani on Kenya’s south coast.
The pair had travelled to a small village area known for its chameleons when they noticed bushes full of grasshoppers attracting the reptiles’ attention. After patiently watching for the perfect moment, they managed to freeze the dramatic strike in action, revealing details impossible to fully appreciate in real time. Mark and Jaren said the challenge was not only predicting the exact moment the chameleon would attack, but also keeping the fast moving tongue, insect and reptile all sharp in the frame during the split second encounter.
Images by: Mark A Fernley/Jaren Fernley/TwoPointO Media
