Page 8 - Chameleon
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Skin of many colors
Changing skin color is an im- new study has found that chame-
portant part of communica- leons can rapidly change color by
tion among chameleons. Ac- adjusting special cells, called iri-
cording to the San Diego Zoo, A dophore cells, in each layer. The
a chameleon's skin changes chameleons can change the structural ar-
colors in response to its emo- rangement of the upper cell layer by relaxing
tions, such as anger or fear, or exciting the skin, which leads to a change
changes in light, temperature in color, researchers found. Chameleons live
or humidity. The brighter the in Madagascar, Africa, Spain, Portugal and
color, the more dominant the Asia in rain forests, savannas, semi-deserts
male is, and the more attrac- and steppes, according to the San Diego
tive he is to females. A sub- Zoo. They typically stay in trees or bushes,
though some species do live on the ground.
For example, the horned leaf chameleon
6 lives in dead leaves on forest floors accord-
