Chameleons are squamates that belong to one of the best-known lizard families. The word is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek χαμαιλέων, from χαμαί (khamai) "on the earth, on the ground" + λέων (leon) "lion", translating the Akkadian nēš qaqqari, "ground lion".
All chameleon species are able to change their skin colour. Changing colour is an expression of the physical and psychological condition of the lizard, not, as is commonly believed, to match their surroundings. Thus, the old joke about a chameleon suffering a fatal injury upon setting foot on a plaid is based on a false premise. The colour also plays a part in communication.
Chameleons change their colour in response to light exposure and ambient temperature, as well as to express their mood. Emotions and attraction of a mate can induce the colour change.
Different chameleon species are able to change different colours which can include pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown and yellow. Chameleons are naturally coloured for their surroundings as a camouflage. However, recent research has indicated that Chameleons may use colour changes as a method of communication, including to make themselves more attractive to potential mates.
Chameleons have specialized cells, collectively called chromatophores, that lie in layers under their transparent outer skin. The cells in the upper layer, called xanthophores and erythrophores, contain yellow and red pigments respectively. Below these is another layer of cells called iridophores or guanophores, and they contain the colourless crystalline substance guanine. These reflect, among others, the blue part of incident light. If the upper layer of chromatophores appears mainly yellow, the reflected light becomes green (blue plus yellow). A layer of dark melanin containing melanophores is situated even deeper under the reflective iridophores. The melanophores influence the 'lightness' of the reflected light. All these pigment cells can rapidly relocate their pigments, thereby influencing the colour of the chameleon.
Morning sweety, its dark and going to rain here as well:( Char is standing on the hockeyfield now, she is the arbiter? for the younger team now and having a match herself after, will be soaking wet agian I guess after all this.... It felt strange to have this creature on mu arm, thet tickle and keep themselves very tight to my skin...loll Will send you a shot of that here later, can you believe they kill these as they think they are evil? The local women were screeming seeing me holding it....
Will be out with Char to the movies tonight, maybe the last James Bond, hoping its better then the last one, and I miss Pierce Brosnan or more Sean Connery...lolll I am looking forward to see some of your shots, so not just editing but adding too my dear...:))) Many warm hugs, Jenxx
Great close-up of this chameleon...isn't it strange to have him on the hand???He looks very funny!!Great details and a nice composition my dear Jen!! I hope the weather is better by you??Here it is foggy and uncomfortable:(...it is great to edit pictures:) I wish you a nice weekend and stay cozy at home!! Hugs, Nicki
Tsssss....it didnt get the time to change as it was on my white shirt before this, maybe still a bit or very confused about it:)) But the Zimbabwean wanted to kill it as they think they are evil, so we tried to safe it, hoping succeeded!
I had it on my arm as well and it was crawling up, felt quite funny but also a bit scary, was hoping for some change in colour, but of course it didnt work that way..loll Big hugs, Jenxx
Thank you my dear, I aways loved chameleons as I do with other lizards as well, they seem so out of the world! Saw a huge varan in Mozambique before, 1½ meter at least, but that was a bit different. Will go to Moz next month, hoping I will see some again:) Those shots were not good at all, such a pity! Be well and have a relaxt weekend, still snow there? xxJen
It is indeed a chameleon my dear Pam, i wish we could also face our eyeballs all kinds of directions...although...seeing everything isnt something to get wild for:)) It was so cute and hoping still alive as Zimbabweans are very scared of these cretures and wanted to kill it...:(( Big hugs and kiss, enjoy your weekend, Jen
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