Changing colour is an expression of the physical and psychological condition of the lizard, not, as is commonly believed, to match their surroundings. Chameleons change their colour in response to light exposure and ambient temperature.
Different chameleon species are able to change different colours which can include pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown and yellow. Chameleons are naturally coloured for their surroundings as a camouflage. However, recent research has indicated that Chameleons may use colour changes as a method of communication, including to make themselves more attractive to potential mates.
Chameleons have specialized cells, collectively called chromatophores, that lie in layers under their transparent outer skin. The cells in the upper layer, called xanthophores and erythrophores, contain yellow and red pigments respectively. Below these is another layer of cells called iridophores or guanophores, and they contain the colourless crystalline substance guanine. These reflect, among others, the blue part of incident light. If the upper layer of chromatophores appears mainly yellow, the reflected light becomes green (blue plus yellow). A layer of dark melanin containing melanophores is situated even deeper under the reflective iridophores. The melanophores influence the 'lightness' of the reflected light. All these pigment cells can rapidly relocate their pigments, thereby influencing the colour of the chameleon. (from wikipedia)
Under a chameleon’s outer skin are special skin cells with colour (or pigment) in them. These cells are called chromatophores. The top layer of chromatophores have red or yellow pigment. The lower layers have blue or white pigment. A chameleon changes colour when its brain sends a message to the cells. The message tells the cells to grow bigger or to shrink. When this happens, the cell pigments mix and the chameleon’s colour changes.
So, why does the chameleon change colour? Chameleons change colour in response to changes in the light, or temperature, or mood. When a boy chameleon wants to mate, for example, he flashes his most flamboyant colours to try and attract a female.
Temperature affects the chameleon’s colour too—if it’s cold, darker skin allows the chameleon to absorb more heat from the Sun and light from the Sun can signal a chameleon to change to a lighter shade, to reflect the sunlight.
The color cells of the lizard alter size when put by different enviroments, which changes the amounts of red, yellow, and dark brown in the skin and this, in turn, alters skin color. The reflecting layers modify these effects. Where the skin has a blue layer under yellow cells, the blue reflects through the yellow and changes it to green. Where the blue layer is missing, white shines though and enhances the yellow and red above
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Changing colour is an expression of the physical and psychological condition of the lizard, not, as is commonly believed, to match their surroundings. Chameleons change their colour in response to light exposure and ambient temperature.
Different chameleon species are able to change different colours which can include pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown and yellow. Chameleons are naturally coloured for their surroundings as a camouflage. However, recent research has indicated that Chameleons may use colour changes as a method of communication, including to make themselves more attractive to potential mates.
Chameleons have specialized cells, collectively called chromatophores, that lie in layers under their transparent outer skin. The cells in the upper layer, called xanthophores and erythrophores, contain yellow and red pigments respectively. Below these is another layer of cells called iridophores or guanophores, and they contain the colourless crystalline substance guanine. These reflect, among others, the blue part of incident light. If the upper layer of chromatophores appears mainly yellow, the reflected light becomes green (blue plus yellow). A layer of dark melanin containing melanophores is situated even deeper under the reflective iridophores. The melanophores influence the 'lightness' of the reflected light. All these pigment cells can rapidly relocate their pigments, thereby influencing the colour of the chameleon. (from wikipedia)
Under a chameleon’s outer skin are special skin cells with colour (or pigment) in them. These cells are called chromatophores. The top layer of chromatophores have red or yellow pigment. The lower layers have blue or white pigment. A chameleon changes colour when its brain sends a message to the cells. The message tells the cells to grow bigger or to shrink. When this happens, the cell pigments mix and the chameleon’s colour changes.
So, why does the chameleon change colour? Chameleons change colour in response to changes in the light, or temperature, or mood. When a boy chameleon wants to mate, for example, he flashes his most flamboyant colours to try and attract a female.
Temperature affects the chameleon’s colour too—if it’s cold, darker skin allows the chameleon to absorb more heat from the Sun and light from the Sun can signal a chameleon to change to a lighter shade, to reflect the sunlight.
The color cells of the lizard alter size when put by different enviroments, which changes the amounts of red, yellow, and dark brown in the skin and this, in turn, alters skin color. The reflecting layers modify these effects. Where the skin has a blue layer under yellow cells, the blue reflects through the yellow and changes it to green. Where the blue layer is missing, white shines though and enhances the yellow and red above
Well, all chameleons change colors and they eat a mix of crickets and worms.
No they do not change color they have colors on them that mach there spechies and there type of rain forest trees they live in.
The chromatophores (color cells) in their skin respond to their environmental surroundings.
they have a special defence mekanisime to change colour in different moods and to camoflauge
they change colour to match there surroundings so they dont get eaten for lunch
camouflage,they blend their colors with their surroundings to hide from prediators!
dey is magiciall fo sho!