Science Today: Chameleon Color Change | California Academy of Sciences

How do chameleons change color?

For the most part, we understand why
these flamboyant lizards do so,

to blend in to their backgrounds,

look powerful against a rival,

or appear romantic to woe a mate.

But the mechanisms that allow
the color change

are just now coming into focus.

Scientists recently discovered
that chameleons

rearrange a lattice-like structure
of skin cells

to rapidly change hues.

In fact, these reptiles have two
layers of these cells.

The upper layer changes coloration

by relaxing or exciting the skin.

And the lower layer reflects
infra-red light,

likely keeping the chameleon cool

under any circumstance.

This combination and process
make chameleons unique

among their color-changing brethren.

But looking at these spectacular animals,

their distinctiveness hardly
comes as a surprise.