Animals - Animal types and traits - Chameleons - Animal behavior
Why do chameleons change color?
Correct!
Chameleons do not change color only to match every background. Color change is especially important for communication, such as during stress, rivalry, or courtship, and camouflage can also matter in some situations.
Body temperature can also influence coloration. In panther chameleons, rapid color shifts partly depend on tiny guanine nanocrystals in certain skin cells. When the spacing between these crystals changes, different wavelengths of light are reflected, so the skin may look more yellow, orange, or red.
