WHY of the Day

= Why does a 'chameleon' change its color?

------General Info---------------------------------------------------

- A chameleon is a type of lizards which mostly live in Madagascar.

- The word 'chameleon' is of Greek origins, meaning: the Earth's Lion.

- A chameleon's body consists of special cells called 'chromatophores' which contain various colored pigments in various tissues beneath the outer-skin layer.

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* Most people think that a chameleon tends to change its skin colors to hide from its enemies (camouflage). But in fact, the change in skin colors is due to a brain message (generated by external/internal factors) which orders the pigmented cells to extend or contract. Those two cellular movements affect the final color of the skin.

+ For instance, a chameleon changes its color according to light intensity, temperature, and other internal factors such as the tendency to attract the opposite sex, fear, anger, illnesses, and hormonal variations. THE COLORS SURROUNDING A CHAMELEON DO NOT AFFECT THE SKIN COLOR.

__Sun rays affect the pigmented cells, so the skin displays a light color to reflect light away, in order to decrease body temperature. It goes oppositely when no sun is present.

__ Anger leads to dark colors.
__ Fear leads to yellowish colors.
__ Serenity/Clarity leads to green colors.

Therefore, as we can see, chameleons depend on the language of colors to communicate.

>>>> Translated From "200 Questions and Answers From Our Daily Life", Iyad Shafik Saab <<<<

This kinda inspired me. I could use a hint in one of my poems about that. Thanks, Abed. Communicating with colors, how interesting.

I know alot of people with the same characteristics as these creatures lol

Wow. I did not realize that they communicated using colors - I was one of those dorks that always think they did that to hide ^.^ oopsies.

Very interesting.

They taught me in school thats why they changed color, bahaha. Gotta love my hometown education system!

Inspiring. Thanks Abed.

Love your book (Iyad Shafik Saab's collection) Abed. Good summer education. I thought you were going to the number 666 or 999 next, but you took a nature detour.

So, here are the colors in "heat" for panther chameleon's, with beautiful music in the background.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB-aqoxG8AY&feature=related

The male so colorful? and the female so "bland"? Interesting is'nt it! any guesses?
But, another species the "jackson's chameleon" female has even a more interesting color change (goes from neutral green to a dark color) when it wants to say "go away" (=rejects) the male. Ahm! No need to watch her play with her hair, or her inviting smile/word play or which way her feet are pointing...Chameleons are indeed lucky! This color changing takes all the guess work out of finding a date.

So different than us humans!

Welcome all:D

- David.. I forgot to say that I hate everything that crawls. I guess their breeding is disgusting lol ... the only thing interesting about them is the colors

Well none of us probably love the "creepy crawlies", as they give us shivers! But, to a reptile lover, they are exquisite...no wonder so many people take in chameleon's as a pet, average price $150 or more.

Here is what I had not read before, but now that I have read it, I will like to share with all the folks who love Biology.

(From National Geographic)

HOW CHAMELEONS CHANGE COLOR

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.

{Comments - Unlike cold blooded animals, humans and most mammals and birds only have melanocytes, a specialized chromatophore skin cell that produces only melanin, the dark pigment, under the influence of the hypothalamic hormone MSH. Interestingly, other than sun/UV protection, it also has an effect on libido/arousal...2 analogues melanotan II and bremelanotide are being tested as the new generation of aphrodisiacs/Viagra-like drugs.}.

WHY CHAMELEONS CHANGE COLOR

Many people think chameleons change color to blend in with their surroundings. Scientists disagree. Their studies show that light, temperature, and mood cause chameleons to change color. Sometimes changing color can make the chameleon more comfortable. Sometimes it helps the animal communicate with other chameleons.

Light: Say 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 reflect bright sunlight.

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

Mood: Mood probably causes most color changes. For example, if a panther chameleon gets angry, red and yellow replace its normal color. A chemical called melanin rises toward the skin's surface, causing areas of the skin to darken. The animal's new look 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?" One type of male chameleon will change from brown to purple and light blue. His eyelids may even turn yellow with green spots. What female chameleon wouldn't fall for such a handsome guy?

(I think this is reversed in the human race, wearing "flashy" make-up maybe an invitation to "hang out" ? What do I know? haha)

Cool!

I knew everything about human melanin where absence, as I recall, causes albinism.

It's great to know about lizards' melanin.

Wow, you learn something new every day !

Thanks for this post.

Cool. Before this, whenever I saw a green chameleon against brown leaves, I thought it was stupid.

LMAO
hahhahahaha

I know it was in your other topic that you talk of the number 13 but...did you realise you have made the 13th post in this one LP....du..du..du..du....<<<< music to Jaws LOL!!!

Love the nature detour. I did know this about chameleons, but it's surprising to me how popularized the "blending with background" myth is. It's all over the place, breaching children's books and taking over our lives!

I think I can write a poem about chamaleons after all you said Abed.Very interesting.

LOL Hellon, I swear you're awesome <3

I was looking at the word after you posted the etymology. Greek *khame- can also mean 'dwarf', giving the word 'chameleon' the meaning 'dwarf lion'.

Fitting since the little guys have what resembles a lion's mane.