Shapeshifting: Why Chameleons change color

[teslafire]

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?
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0210/articles/mainarticle.html

[woghd]

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?
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0210/articles/mainarticle.html

If you want to see a master shapeshifter at work, take a look at a cuttle-fish. They can actually re-create the face of somebody lookingat them...WIERD.

Archangel

[dedicate]

That's really very interesting. It points up what most of us are aware of,-- that what we have been told, made to believe, is mostly incorrect. Like this, -- Why do Chemelions change color? Or why is the sky blue? etc. and are givin some reason for it. It's explained. but then the world is demystified. The beauti and genius of the world goes missing. I would venture to say, that those other explanations given by scientists are not the whole story either.-- i.e. communication, mood. Science tends to explain everything. That is one of the very bad aspects of science, if you ask me. Like that nothing could be just for the beauti and genius of it.

[zedd]

Changing color isn't a shapeshift. You aren't changing shape at all. If this were the case then we are all shapeshifters once summer comes around because we all change to a darker color.

[adimon]

I shapeshift slightly when I see Winona Ryder.