The outermost layer of the chameleon's skin is actually transparent. Beneath that outer layer lies several more layers containing a variety of specialized skills, including the blue and white light-reflecting iridophores. What's really wild is if the chameleon needs a dramatic quick-change like when it's trying to show off for a potential mate , it can quickly shed its outer layers of skin to expose the iridophores to direct sunlight in a hurry.
Learn more about chameleons in " Chameleon, Chameleon " by Joy Cowley. HowStuffWorks picks related titles based on books we think you'll like. Should you choose to buy one, we'll receive a portion of the sale. There's not a ton of research to support it yet, but some scientists believe chameleons' color-changing abilities also allow them to regulate their body temperature. A study demonstrated that bearded dragons alter their hue based on their temps, and since chameleons are ectotherms and can't retain body heat hence their stereotypical sunbathing , it's possible that maintaining a dark color allows them to absorb more light and heat.
Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Atop that layer are cells called iridophores, which have a blue pigment that reflects blue and white light. Layered on top of those cells are the xanthophores and erythrophores, which contain yellow and red pigments, respectively. Normally, the pigments are locked away inside tiny sacs within the cells.
But when a chameleon experiences changes in body temperature or mood, its nervous system tells specific chromatophores to expand or contract. This changes the color of the cell.
By varying the activity of the different chromatophores in all the layers of the skin, the chameleon can produce a whole variety of colors and patterns. Even more surprising: these animals are known to be color blind. Military Academy in West Point used state-of-the-art imaging technology to try to unravel the mystery of how they do it and found that the camouflage strategies of these animals to avoid detection by predators was based not on color, like the chameleon's, but on the manipulation of light.
By using the site, you agree to the uses of cookies and other technology as outlined in our Policy, and to our Terms of Use. About Chameleons Even if chameleons couldn't change color, they would be well camouflaged because they live in environments that match their natural skin tones. Tricking Two Predators South Africa's Smith's dwarf chameleon has two deadly enemies: a shrike that impales the lizard on thorns before eating it and a venomous snake called a boomslang.
How They Do It Scientists at the University of Cambridge call chameleons "just phenomenal," but say it's a "myth" that they change color to camouflage themselves. Other Color-Changing Animals Some coleoid cephalopods, a group of marine animals that include octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, are capable of camouflaging themselves so well, even against backgrounds with extremely complex patterns, that they are rendered virtually invisible.
In , Stuart-Fox came across Smith's dwarf chameleon basking on a dark-colored flower stalk while doing field work in South Africa. All rights reserved. Share Tweet Email. Read This Next Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London Love them or hate them, there's no denying their growing numbers have added an explosion of color to the city's streets.
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