Chameleon Facts For Kids | How Do Chameleons Change Color?

Chameleon on a branch in Madagascar. Photo by AyseBurada / iStock.com

If you’ve ever watched a cartoon with a chameleon, you’ve probably seen it change color to blend in perfectly with the background, whether it’s pink, green, or plaid! But that is not quite the case in real life.

Chameleons do have the ability to dramatically change their skin color and patterns. But usually, chameleons change color to reflect their moods, defend their territory or attract mates, and not for camouflage.

Chameleons are a kind of lizard. There are over 200 species of chameleons, ranging in size from 16 mm (0.5 in.) to 70 cm (27 in.) long.

They inhabit many different habitats, including deserts, rainforests, steppes and savannas. Within each habitat, they tend to live in trees or bushes, but some live on the ground.

They are native to Africa, Madagascar, parts of Asia, and the southern portions of Europe.

How Chameleons Change Color

Chameleons have the ability to change color because they have special skin cells called chromatophores.

Chameleons have special skin cells called chromatophores which allow them to change the color and pattern of their skin. Photo by Oleg Kovtun / iStock.com

There are different kinds of chromatophores. Some contain yellow, red or black pigments, and some contain transparent crystals which reflect light and can produce blue or white colors. Chameleons have multiple layers of these chromatophores.

Nerve impulses and hormonal changes cause the pigments in the chromatophores to move, which block or expose the other layers of chromatophores. In this way, a variety of different colors and color patterns can be produced.

Independently-Moving Eyes

Aside from their coloration, chameleons have other special characteristics. They have eyes that can move in two different directions at once.

Long Tongues

One amazing feature of chameleons is their tongue. Imagine being able to shoot your tongue across the room to eat a piece of popcorn. That’s what it’s like for chameleons.

They can snap their tongue almost twice the length of their body and stick it to an insect.

A chameleon catching its prey with its long, sticky tongue, Andasibe National Park, Eastern Madagascar. Photo by Leamus / iStock.com.

Tails and Feet that Grasp

Larger chameleons have tails that can move and grasp.

Their feet are also adapted to grasp; they are more like birds’ feet  than the feet of other lizards.

Head Decorations

Some species of chameleons have crests or horns on their heads. Often the males have more than females.

A Jackson’s three-horned chameleon in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. Photo by Ivan Sabayuki / iStock.com.

What Chameleons Eat

Chameleons mainly eat insects. But they are also known to eat spiders, snails, lizards and even birds.

Chameleon Defenses

Chameleons use camouflage, the ability to blend into their surroundings, to hide from predators such as snakes and birds. But in general, they rely on their natural state color, a greenish-brown, to blend in, as opposed to changing color to match their surroundings.

When threatened, they prefer to stay still and remain hidden, but they do have other means of defense if necessary. They can flatten out to appear bigger, and they can lash out with their feet and jaws.

Chameleons typically rely on their natural state color to blend in with their surroundings. Photo by Michelle McDonald / iStock.com.

Reproduction

Chameleons are solitary animals, but males will approach females during the mating season.

They try to impress the females by changing their skin to bright colors. If the female does not want to mate, she will turn a dark color and get aggressive, hissing and biting. If the female is available, she’ll stay the same color.

Most chameleons lay eggs. The female chameleon will dig a hole, lay her eggs, and cover them with dirt.

She may lay anywhere from 2-100 eggs, depending on the species. Then after 4-24 months, the babies hatch and must fend for themselves.

Interestingly, there are some species of chameleons that have live births. The female chameleon will incubate her eggs inside her body. Then after 4-6 months, she will give birth to anywhere from 8-30 baby chameleons.

A baby short-nosed deceptive chameleon at Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. Photo by Artush / iStock.com.

Conservation Status

According to the IUCN, the conservation status of chameleons range from least concern to endangered depending on the species.

The primary danger to chameleons is habitat loss. Many species are native to Madagascar, which has lost habitat due to farming and logging.

They are also at risk due to capture for reselling as pets.

What You Can Do to Help

You can help by avoiding purchasing chameleons sourced from the wild. You can also advocate for sustainable farming in countries with native populations of chameleons.

More Chameleon Resources

• IUCN Red List: Chameleon
• “A Truly Bizarre Lizard.” Madagascar: A World Apart. PBS
• Bradford, Alina. “Chameleon Facts.” Live Science. June 3, 2015
• San Diego Zoo: Chameleon 
• Jones, Benji. “Chameleons’ Craziest Color Changes Aren’t for Camouflage.” National Geographic. August 2, 2018
• Stuart-Fox, Devi. “How do chameleons and other creatures change colour?” Phys.org. May 3, 2013

Quick Fact Sheet

Common Name(s): Chameleon

Scientific Name: Chamaeleonidae

Animal Type: reptile

Size: 1.6-70 cm (0.5-27 in.) long

About the Author

P.A. Smith is a middle school Language Arts teacher. He is also a contributing editor of My House Rabbit.

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