Chameleons' Craziest Color Changes Aren't For Camouflage

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And videos on YouTube, he says, some of which show the lizards changing colors as they encounter different surfaces or objects, “are completely fake.”

Nevertheless, a chameleon’s hue-shifting skills are some of nature’s best—and most multifaceted. (Related: See how chameleons change colors)

a male and a female Decary's leaf chameleon
A male and a female Decary's leaf chameleon, Brookesia decaryi. Most chameleons have skin that already resembles their environment, but they can adjust the brightness of the hue in varioius ways.Photograph by Christian Ziegler, Nat Geo Image Collection

Though incapable of matching certain details in their environments, such as bright flowers or individual blades of grass, chameleons can, in fact, make small color adjustments to blend into their surroundings. And the more dramatic color transformations—which have made species like the panther chameleon famous—help these lizards defend territory and attract mates.

So while they may not live up to their common portrayal in entertainment media, their use of color is far more impressive than most people imagine. Let’s take a closer look.

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