How do chameleon change color?

Answer 1

There are more than 100 types of chameleons. Most change from brown to green and back. But some turn almost any color. A change can occur in 20 seconds! How does this color "magic" happen?

Chameleons are born with special cells that have a color, or pigment, in them. These cells lie in layers under the chameleon's outer skin. They are called chromatophores (kro MAT uh fors). The top layers of chromatophores have red or yellow pigment. The lower layers have blue or white pigment. When these pigment cells change, the chameleon's skin color changes.

Chromatophores change because they get a message from the brain. The message tells the cells to enlarge or to shrink. These actions cause cell pigments to mix-just like paint.

A chemical called melanin (MEH la nuhn) also helps chameleons turn color. Melanin fibers can spread like spiderwebs through layers of pigment cells. Their presence causes skin to darken.

The temperature of their body
it has specialised cells that have a system in the cells that makes them change colour into or whatever they blend into. it can also be seen as an illusion.

Answer 2

The pigment cells in their skin contract and expand - creating a myriad of colours that enable them to blend into the background.

Answer 3

it changes color when it stands on something