How do chameleons change colours? I am ready to bet, this question is of great interest to MANY of you and MOST of you will answer: “According to its environment, or match that of the background”. Ha-ha. Actually, it’s a popular,even more than popular and widespread, but still a MISCONCEPTION. Just imagine a polka-dotted chameleon, sounds like hogwash! Don’t you think so?
Main reasons for a chameleon to change colours are: light, temperature, and emotions of this particular species. Chameleons can be of various colours: green, turquoise, blue-green and black. Skin of these animals has 4 layers and it is transparent. These 4 layers cooperate in order to produce various colours.
Interesting facts:
- chameleons prefer loneliness (even can’t stand company, especially of other chameleons). When 2 chameleons meet, they started impressing each other, showing various menacing postures and colours;
- when a chameleon is attacked by a predator he turns his colour to red with yellow stripes;
- when chameleons feel sick, their colours turn to pale, ’cause they don’t have enough energy to change colours.
Find more about chameleons here.


Interesting fact… the first picture isn’t a chameleon… I believe its actually a Green-crested lizard, Bronchocela cristatella.
Rest of the article is pretty good though..
I missed all your posts this week with my mom away. Lots of great info and stories. Thanks!
–JB
2 Minus: Thanks! The fault is all mine. I will correct this mistake, Thanks once again. Shame on me, I failed to know a lizard from a chameleon.
2 JB: Thank you so much!!!!!
[...] example, in my post about chameleons I didn’t know a chameleon from a lizard. Shame on me! Thanks to Minus, I am not going to [...]