-
Asked by tosty55 to Aggelos, Andrew, Eileen, Naomi, Shane on 16 Nov 2012.
-
Andrew Jackson answered on 16 Nov 2012:
great question about an amazing animal.
The chameleon has special skin cells called chromatophores (chroma means colour in greek). They also have a see-through layer of cells on the top of their skin. Some of the cells contain pigments, which are like paints, and they can move the pigment either to the centre of the cell so that it doesnt reflect much light, or to the entire cell so that it reflects lots of light. When the pigment reflects the light, we see it as yellow, or red or blue. Mixing the arrangment of the pigments lets it change colour of its skin.
The cuttlefish, octopus and squids are even better and quicker at changing their colour and they do it in a very similar way. All of them, including the chameleon use the colour to communitcate with others of its species, but also to hide from predators and to frighten predators away.
scientists and engineers are trying to copy this technique for camouflage and to make more efficient TV screens.
-
-
Naomi Elster answered on 16 Nov 2012:
Their skin has special cells in it called chromophores. These are cells that contain a pigment which give those cells a certain colour. When the chameleon’s brain perceives that it is in danger, it sends a message to these chromophores to enlarge or shrink, so that the colour pigments inside them can mix, just like an artist mixes paint, to match the colour of its surroundings. Clever stuff!
-
Eileen Diskin answered on 19 Nov 2012:
Some animals do things, in addition to changing their colour, to make them even more invisible. The peacock flounder changes colour AND, as it gets older its eye gradually moves so it can swim sideways along the ground and be really disguised.
Here’s a cool video of it changing colour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqm8Tak6buY&feature=player_embedded
Comments