Creature feature - cool chameleons!


The chameleon (kuh meel yun) can be found in northern Africa, the Middle East, India, and the island of Madagascar. This amazing lizard can change colour often and quickly. If you watch one at the right moment, you can even see the colour change!



There are over 100 types of chameleons with most changing colour from brown to green and back. But some chameleons can turn almost any colour – and they can do it in 20 seconds!


Chameleon babies get out of their eggs without the help of their parents.
Watch how instinct guides these hatchlings to their first meal!

So how do chameleons change colour? They’re born with special cells that have a colour in them, which lie in layers under the chameleon's outer skin. These cells are called chromatophores (kro mat uh fors). The top layers of chromatophores have red or yellow pigment, and the lower layers have blue or white pigment.

A message from the brain tells the chromatophores to get bigger or smaller, which causes the pigments to mix. When this happens, the cells change colour – along with the chameleon's skin!

Many people think chameleons change colour to blend in with their surroundings. But scientific studies show that light, temperature, and mood cause chameleons to change colour.

Fast facts

  • A chemical called melanin (meh la nuhn) also helps chameleons change colour.
  • Sometimes changing colour can make the chameleon more comfortable, like turning green to reflect bright sunlight.
  • Changing colour can helps the chameleons communicate with other animals too. Turning bright red and yellow shows the world it’s ready to fight.
  • When a chameleon is cold, it might turn a darker colour, because they absorb more heat than light ones.
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Pictures: Getty Images UK