Chameleons are Invisible

Chameleons are often viewed as examples of animals that change color to blend in with their environment. This understanding is incorrect.

Blending into the environment occurs but is a minor aspect of their proactive colour changing behaviour. Their appearance has evolved over millions of years to match their surroundings. For example, a male panther chameleon from Ambanja can become nearly invisible against fresh mango leaves, demonstrating how evolution has influenced their coloration to align with their habitats.

The primary purpose of color change in chameleons is not camouflage. It mainly serves the following functions:

• Intraspecific communication: Chameleons use color changes to signal to each other, especially during social interactions related to dominance or submission.

• Sexual communication: Color changes can indicate readiness to mate, helping with mate attraction and species identification.

• Thermal regulation: Chameleons adjust their coloration to help control their body temperature by absorbing or reflecting light.

Blending into the environment occurs but is a minor aspect of their proactive colour changing behaviour. Their appearance has evolved over millions of years to match their surroundings. For example, a male panther chameleon from Ambanja can become nearly invisible against fresh mango leaves, demonstrating how evolution has influenced their coloration to align with their habitats.