How+do+chameleons+change+colours?

__**HOW DO CHAMELEONS CHANGE COLOURS?**__

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 chameleons change colour are light, mood, and temperature. For example, a chameleon will change to a darker colour if they are cold because darker colours absorb more heat. If a chameleon decides to rest in the sun it will turn a lighter colour to reflect light. The most common reason that a chameleon will change colour is because of their mood. When they are angry they may turn a different colour, or if they want to attract a female mate they will turn a very vibrant colour to try and impress them.
 * Chameleons change colour because they are born with cells that contain specific colours and pigments that lie underneath their skin. The cells are called chromatophores. The chameleons brain can send a signal for the pigment cells to shrink or enlarge, with causes the colours to mix and change. Also, the melanin in their skin can spread and cause it to darken. Contrary to popular belief, chameleons do not change colour to blend in with their background. The reasons

Olivia Rahn

Definitions:

Pigment:Colour that is found in a cell Melanin: A chemical that causes skin to darken

Citations:

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0210/articles/mainarticle.html Article by:Sharon Katz Cooper Appeared in October 2002 issue || 

__Additional Responses:__

Chameleons are one of the most exotic reptiles on Earth: changing colors to their environment to evade their predators. Changing from green to red, red to blue, blue to yellow and then yellow back to green! These exotic creatures originated from northern Africa, the Middle East, India and the Island of Madagascar.

Chameleons are born with a rare and specific color. Cells lie beneath the outer skin. These cells are called chromatophers. The top layer of the chromatophers have a red or yellow pigment, the lower layers have a white or blue pigment. A chemical called melanin also helps chameleons change color, this chemical acts like a spider web controlling the color change thought the chameleon’s body.

Most people think that Chameleons change colors to match their surroundings. Well, scientists disagree. Studies show that chameleons change color according to their mood, temperature and lighting. For example if it was a blazing hot day, the chameleon would change colors to yellow or green to absorb less light.

November 3, 2011 Sterling Wong

Citations: askabiologist.org.uk Darren Naish

Response 3:

Chameleons change color to give a visual signal of either mood, aggression, territory or mating behavior. They have several layers of specialized cells called chromatophores, these cells allow the chameleon to change color. The outer surface of the chameleons skin is transparent, just below it is the first layer of chromatophores that contain various pigments. Chameleons have many different layers that create a specific color. The first layer is the xanthophores, containing pigments that have a yellow color. Beneath that are pigment cells called erythrophores, which have a red color in them. The third layer is called iridiphores containing a blue colored pigment called guanine; this is also used to create DNA. The last layer of cells is called melanophores, which have a brown pigment in them, called melanin. The chameleons are then able to mix all these colors to create different colors. This is done by signals being sent from the nervous system and the blood stream. A calm chameleon would be a pale green color, where an angry chameleon might go bright yellow. When mating it turns of every color possible. Chameleons mainly change colors to communicate, not to camouflage in its surroundings.

[|How and why do chameleons change colour? - The Naked Scientists May 2010]

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