How Does The Chameleon Change Its Color From A Bright Green To A Grey-black Or To Yellow Spots?

The chameleon changes its colors from a bright green to a grey-black or to yellow spots. The strange fact about the chameleon's ability to change its colors is that it is not caused by the color of its surroundings.

The skin of the chameleon is transparent. Underneath this skin, there are layers of cells which contain yellow, black and red coloring matter. When these cells contract or expand, a change in the color of the chameleon is seen.

When the chameleon became angry or frightened, its nervous system sends a message to those cells. Anger causes the color to darken; excitement and fright bring paler shades and yellow spots. Sunlight also affects the chameleon's colors. Various things like emotion, temperature and light cause the nervous system of the chameleon to make its color cells perform their tricks, not the colors of its surroundings.