Chameleons DO NOT change color to blend in with their surroundings. (Another “Brain Barnacle”)

“Fun Facts Saturday”

I believed that chameleons quickly changed color to blend in with their surroundings. This is a myth.

Chameleons do not blend in with their backgrounds due to color change. Through natural selection, their normal coloration makes them look like the surrounding leaves and branches.

Chameleons are defenseless. They don’t have a dangerous bite. Their skin isn’t packed with poison. They can’t move quickly.

So, they stay very still and remain hidden to evade predators. Because of their normal coloration, they are almost impossible to see.

“Videos on YouTube, which show the lizards changing colors as they encounter different surfaces or objects, are completely fake.”

“Chameleons don’t actually change colors for camouflage, they do it for communication. For example, they’ll have black spots if they’re stressed or angry and bright colors if they’re attracting a mate.”

“Some people believe that chameleons are able to blend into any background or pattern, which isn’t the case…. The thing about chameleons is that they usually blend into their surroundings pretty well already, likely because this is their only defense mechanism.”

In short, chameleons do not change their color to blend in with their surroundings.

(Sources: “Chameleons’ Craziest Color Changes Aren’t for Camouflage,” Benji Jones, National Geographic, Aug 2, 2018; “Do chameleons change their color to match their environment?” Sara Hipsher, Indiana University, July 10, 2021; “How do chameleons change color?” Thomas Fox, New Scientist, Jul 15, 2020; “Chameleons Facts for Kids,” Animal Fact Guide, P.S. Smith.)

Chameleon Color (Photos)