How does a chameleon change colors?

Answer 1

Chameleons change their color primarily to advertise their mood, or send other messages to other chameleons. They also react to the temperature, becoming darker when it is cool, and lighter when it's warmer.

Chameleons use colors to attract a mate, advertise dominance or anger, signal fear or stress, and for other purposes as well. A chameleon's colors are not under its conscious control, but change in response to its emotions or physical state.

They do not and cannot deliberately change colors to match what is around them. Instead, many chameleons seek out plants to live in that look like THEM when they are in their resting colors.

Answer 2

Many people think chameleons change the color to blend into their environment. But this is not true. Studies show that light, temperature and mood changing colors of chameleons. Sometimes the color changes can make the chameleon more comfortable. It is sometimes useful to communicate with other chameleons.

Light: Tell a brown chameleon decides to rest in the sun. The chameleon's brain may tell the yellow cells in its skin to become larger than the blue cells below. Suddenly the chameleon turns green. This lighter color helps the skin to reflect sunlight.

Temperature: If a chameleon is cold, it can turn a darker color. Why? Because dark colors absorb more heat than light ones.

Humor: Humor can also cause color changes. For example, if a panther chameleon gets angry, red and yellow replace its normal color. A chemical called melanin rises toward the surface of the skin, causing areas of the skin to darken. New look at the animal tells other chameleons "I'm ready to fight!"

When a male wants to attract a female, he will wear his most flashy colors, as if to say, "Hey baby, want to hang out?".

Answer 3

Chameleons change color based on excitement, temperature, climate change, health, or the presence of other chameleons. Sometimes the color change helps with camouflage but chameleons actually can't control their color change. It is determined by their skin chemicals.

Answer 4

chameleons change color to protect themselves from Birds of Prey in the rain forest and other creatures as well a rodents aro0und their habitat and this is for the people who wants to know this. and if youre a person who likes and has a pet chameleon this is what i have to say to you you must make sure that you did every thing correctly before you get youre pet. if you did not do it right youre pet will turn black and die so please be carefull

Answer 5

Not all of them can. Those who do, have specialized cells in several layers beneath their outer skin. The different layers reflect different colors of the light. In all cells, if the pigments move into the centre of the cell, the cell itself will be transparent. If they are distributed evenly, the cell will be colored. The animals can relocate and move the pigments in these cells to make the color change.

Answer 6

I think that a chameleon changes colors because they have several cell layers beneath its transparent skin.

Answer 7

easy they just have this little bubble in their body that makes them camoflouge