Colour Changing

[Jaylyn]

Derek asked awhile back about how chams change colour - finally got around to replying .... ;)

There are three different types of dermal cells (called chromatophores) layered under the epidermis.

Xanthophores - these guys are right under the outer layer of skin and are responsible for yellow and red pigmentation - they can reposition the pigments within themselves.

Melanophores - these are large cells with long strands that are directed towards the skin surface. Melanin (a black pigment) is contained within these - and can be transported throughout the cell. So, if the melanin is spread evenly throughout the cell the cham's skin darkens. If it stays centralized the skin remains light. The heights to which the melanin travels within the cell also determines which colours are visible. Clear as mud. :)

Guanophores - these cells are quite small and contain crystals of guanine of no colour which reflect blue light.

All the colour changes are controlled by quite a complicated neuro-hormonal mechanism.


Jaylyn

[Jaylyn]

And some of the reasons why they change colour: temperature, season, light-intensity, health, gravidity, danger, mood, communication. The species each have specific colours for specific things - an animal from one species cannot "read" the colours from another species. This helps prevent hybridization.

Jaylyn

[Laurier]

wow, very good information jaylyn. thanks for sharing.

Laurier

[derek]

wow thanks for the info. next question is .....are males or females brighter (if it varies between species i was interested more in veileds) tnx for your time

[Trace]

I don't think there is much of a difference in "brightness" between male and female Veiled Chameleons. One of my rescues, I swear, glows in the dark she is SO green! The males just have a larger palette of colours showing at any one time.

As for other species... it depends.... male Panther chams are definately brighter than the females. In other species it's sometimes hard to tell the difference between sexes by colour alone.... but that's a whole other thread!

Cheers!

Trace