What causes a chameleon to change its color?

Question

This has been something i have been wondering for a while.
Do they change thier skin cells quickly? Or is it something else?

Answer 1

Some chameleon species are able to change their skin colour, which has made them one of the most famous lizard families. Changing colour is an expression of the physical and physiological condition of the lizard. The colour also plays an important part in communication.

Despite popular belief, chameleons cannot change colour to their surroundings. Chameleons are naturally coloured for their surroundings as a camouflage.

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 different pigment cells can rapidly relocate their pigments, thereby influencing the colour of the chameleon.

Golden Turtle

Answer 2

"It's a popular misconception that the chameleon changes its color to match that of the background," says Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

Light, temperature, and emotions determine color changes.

Most chameleon species have a basic color and pattern that suits their habitat and provides camouflage. They change color to communicate mood changes to other chameleons. An angry chameleon goes "black with rage", says the International Wildlife Encyclopedia.

He can change to various shades of green, blue-green, turquoise, and black.

The transparent skin of a chameleon has four layers which work together to produce various colors. The outside layer has two kinds of color cells, yellow and red. Just inside this layer are two more layers that reflect light: one blue and the other white. The innermost layer--important and complicated--contains pigment granules (melanophore cells).

The melanophores have a dark brown pigment called melanin, the same substance that colors human skin brown or black. The main body of each melanophore sits like a brooding octopus beneath the reflecting layers and sends tentacle-like arms up through the other layers.

The color cells alter size, 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.

The skin brightens when the cells pull the dark melanin from their tentacle-like arms into their bodies. The skin darkens when the cells spread the dark pigment through their arms into the upper layers of the skin. The brownish black color then obscures the white layer, darkening the skin like a black cloud darkens the land.

That's how the chameleon changes color. It knows what color to change to just as we do when we turn red with embarrassment.

Answer 3

I was just reading an article about chameleons and the pics that is showed looked like the lizards were like little leaves. I think that it just depends on the species. I think they change more due to breeding, stress and temp. They are not the only lizards to change color either, all of my lizards change, which inclue my iggy, crested geckos, and beardies. I think it is just generally a lizard thing, but they don't turn the pretty colors that a chameleon is capable of.

Answer 4

Actually while chameleons are in touch with every different their colors difference as social signs instead than camouflage. That method they'll use colors to bring a message reminiscent of "break out that is my territory" or possibly "hi there little one we could hook up". "Chameleons don't seem to be social animals, and while 2 animals have visible touch, they may be able to difference colour inside seconds. Depending on species, shiny shade is also restrained to men, observed in each sexes, displayed simplest throughout the breeding season, or exhibited throughout competitive encounters. Male exhibits might also comprise head jerking, the spreading of occipital lobes (if reward), and gular sac extension." (supply = animal range internet)

Answer 5

Those are not always the case of why they change colors. I have a Muller Chameleon and he changes colors according to his mood. When hes tierd and wants me to shut his light off he will turn yellow, when hes unconfortable or if someones bugging him he will turn black, If hes happy and content his will be bright green. So for my chameleon its all about the mood he is in.

hope this helps!

Answer 6

A chameleon changes its colour when it changes moods most of the time but it also changes when it needs to blend into a different background for camoflauge so it doesnt get seen by predators or even its prey.
Hop that helped

Answer 7

They don´t change cells, the cells are the same. But temperature or other environmental factors make them release some proteins, they activate and the combination of different kinds of proteins (called melanine), gives the resulting color.

Answer 8

They change colors to communicate with other Chameleons. American Chamelons only change from green to brown and brown to green, But they don't do it to match their environment. Color changes are also to defense against other predators such as snakes.

Answer 9

it is the way that it protects itself... like if there were some kind of animal that ate it than he would blend in when it was around so the preditor wouldnt find him... so if it changes colors a lot it might feel scared or harmed

Answer 10

defence and being scared