What is it in a chameleon that makes it able to change their color?

Answer 1

HOW CAN CHAMELEONS CHANGE THEIR COLOR?

Color range occurs due to mechanism involving dispersion of pigment in cells containing pigment granules that are under the control of the autonomic nervous system. Under the transparent outer skin are two cell layers that contain red and yellow pigments (or chromatophores). Below the chromatophores are cell layers that reflect blue and white light. Even deeper down is a layer of brown melanin. Levels of external light and heat, and internal chemical reactions cause these cells to expand or contract. A chameleon's color change is determined by environmental factors, such as light and temperature as well as by emotions such as fright, victory or defeat in battle with another chameleon, or willingness to mate. It is a misconception that the chameleon changes its color in response to its surroundings.

Answer 2

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 colorless crystalline substance guanine. These reflect amongst 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 different pigment cells can rapidly relocate their pigments, thereby influencing the color of the chameleon.

Answer 3

Certain chameleons have certain colors-- they can't change to any color they want. Beneath their skin is something called pigments which they can control by opening and closing special cells called melanophores, the chameleon can change color. The sun reflects certain pigments such as green or brown, which bounces back into our eyes and are the colors that we see them turn into. [Leaves absorb colors like red and reflect green so we see green light]. Light, temperature and even mood affect how a chameleon changes it's color. Chameleons do not change colors to match environment-- it's these three factors that change the color. They just happen to change green, brown, or gray just because that's what their skin reflects.