Reptile That Uses Camouflage

Chameleon Description

• Chameleons are a family of lizards closely related to iguanas. They are characterized by eyes that are able to rotate and move in different directions; their long, sticky tongues used to grab insects; their prehensile tails, which they use to grab branches; and, most notably, their skin, which can change pigment in varying conditions. Not all chameleon species possess the ability to change their skin color. Chameleons are found mainly in Africa and Asia, but they are also found in Hawaii, California and Florida.

Camouflage Chemistry

• Chameleons are able to change colors because of specialized cells in their skins called chromatophores. There are actually specific types of skin cells for each color that the chameleon can produce. For example, xanthophores cause skin to turn yellow, erythrophores cause skin to turn red and cyanophores cause skin to turn blue. There are several other types of color-changing cells. The chameleon causes these cells to activate by sending messages from their brains to their skin cells.

Causes and Habits

• Camouflage is not the only reason chameleons change colors. Chameleons change colors primarily to attract mates. Females are attracted by the vibrant colors of their male counterparts, though females can change colors as well. Chameleons also change color to express mood, stress or temperature change in the environment. Not all chameleons can produce the same wide variety of colors; some can only produce one or two colors.

Other Reptile Camouflage

• Chameleons are not the only reptiles that have skin camouflage. Tuataras and anoles are two other lizards, distantly related to the chameleon, that can change colors, although not as vividly as chameleons. Certain other species of reptiles, though they cannot change colors, have skin pigments that blend almost perfectly into their habitats.