Fish, insects, and reptiles can disguise themselves by changing their color. One of the most famous lizards that can radically change the color of their body in a given situation is the chameleon.
Instructions
Step 1
Chameleons are inhabitants of the sultry continent called Africa. Currently, they are common in South India and southern Europe, as well as in Madagascar, Hawaii and Sri Lanka. Chameleon is a unique lizard! Not only does he have an incredible ability to change the color of his skin, but also his eyes, covered with fused eyelids, live their own life, turning in different directions, independently of each other. In addition, these lizards can spend hours on the branches of trees, waiting for their prey. As soon as this or that insect gets into the chameleon's field of vision, he immediately, without hesitation, grabs it with his long and sticky tongue.
Step 2
This reptile is widely known for its unique ability to miraculously change the color of its skin. It is curious that a lizard up to 30 cm long can skillfully disguise itself, becoming red, then black, then blue, then yellow. Scientists doing research on chameleons have tried to figure out how and why these lizards change their skin color. Initially, it was assumed that chameleons simply like to adapt to the surrounding background, considering it their duty. This assumption turned out to be wrong.
Step 3
According to modern research, chameleons change the color of their skin depending on their condition: the mood of the animal can affect the color change, these can be reactions to fear or joy, this can also depend on the ambient temperature. Zoologists have found that a chameleon changes the color of its body thanks to special cells - chromatophores. The fact is that the skin of this lizard is quite transparent, therefore, cells containing pigments of different colors are well traced.
Step 4
Grains of chromatophores contain grains of several pigments at once: red, yellow, black and dark brown. If segments of these cells begin to shrink, then a redistribution of pigments occurs, the concentration of which increases sharply. In this case, the reptile's skin becomes light (for example, yellowish or white). If one of the dark pigments is reduced, then the chameleon's skin becomes dark. It is curious that such a reduction occurs at different levels, which makes it possible to bring combinations of certain pigments to completely different shades.
Step 5
It takes no more than two seconds for a lizard to change its skin color! For a long time, researchers assumed that chameleons change color only for camouflage: for example, turning green, a lizard can hide in grass or foliage. However, this assumption turned out to be only half true. The fact is that chameleons change their color not only for disguise, but also for their own purposes. For example, some chameleons living in sultry Africa turn black in the morning. This allows them to attract the rays of the sun to themselves. During the day, they become light, so as not to suffer from the heat. These lizards use a variety of variegated colors in their mating games in order to attract a partner. It has been scientifically proven that these animals do not pay attention to the background surrounding them at all. It is curious that in the process of evolution, some species of chameleons generally learned to copy the color of their enemies - birds and snakes.
